Subversion of plant immunity at the host-pathogen interface

BOZKURT, TOLGA; POOJA PANDEY; YASIN TUMTAS; CIAN DUGGAN; ALEXANDRE Y LEARY; ZACHARY D SAVAGE; ALEXIA TOUFEXI; MAURICIO P CONTRERAS; MARÍA EUGENIA SEGRETIN; YASIN DAGDAS; KAMOUN, SOPHIEN

Glasgow

Congreso; XVIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions - IS-MPMI 2019; 2019

IS-MPMI

During plant invasion, the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans penetrates host cells through hyphal extensions known ashaustoria. Haustoria are enveloped by a host-derived membrane known as the extra-haustorial membrane (EHM) whose functions and biogenesisare poorly understood. Through this interface, the pathogen secretes effector proteins which comprehensively subvert host immune responses. Aninteresting group of effectors particularly target the EHM, some of which interfere with defense-related secretory pathways. Using theperihaustorial effectors as molecular probes, we identfied a series of plant defense components deployed to the EHM as well as pathogenstrategies that antagonize plant focal immunity. These processes include; (i) modulation of plant autophagy at the haustorial interface; (ii)trafficking of immune receptors towards the EHM; (iii) recruitment of chloroplasts to the pathogen interface. I will discuss our recent discoverieson these processes, focusing particularly on the reprograming of defense-related autophagy and immune recognition at the pathogen interface.The emerging paradigm is that perihaustorial effectors counteract focal immune responses and remodel the host-microbe interface for safe andefficient nutrient absorption. A better understanding of the cellular trafficking pathways and the signaling events at various plant-pathogeninterfaces would enable novel strategies to tackle filamentous plant pathogens.