Molecular basis of rust infection and host plant resistance

Recent studies have revealed that fungal and oomycete pathogens transport pathogenicity effector proteins into the cytoplasm of host plants, a discovery that has opened up an entirely new direction in research on plant diseases. This project aims to identify the mechanisms responsible for fungal effector protein transport into plant cells and to elucidate the function of fungal effectors in plant disease. The research will increase our understanding of protein transport across the plant plasma membrane and of the molecular basis of fungal pathogenicity mechanisms, providing increased opportunities for the development of novel disease control strategies.