ACTIVATION AND SUPPRESSION OF A BROAD-SPECTRUM NLR: TOWARD MECHANISM-INFORMED BIOENGINEERING

Preface: Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) causes bacterial leaf streak of rice. Xo1 is a rice immune receptor that confers resistance against Xoc. TALEs are effectors of Xoc that trigger Xo1 immunity. TruncTALEs are truncated variants of TALEs that inhibit Xo1 immunity.Goal [1]: to identify how Xo1 detects or is inhibited by pathogen effectors.- Objective [1.1]: Identify TALE and truncTALE regions required foractivation and inhibition of Xo1-mediated immunity.- Objective [1.2]: Determine whether TALEs interact with Xo1 and truncTALEs disrupt this interaction.- Objective [1.3]: Determine whether nuclear localization of TALEs and truncTALEs is required for Xo1 induction and inhibition.- Objective [1.4]: Determine whether TALE DNA-binding is required for Xo1 immunity.- Objective [1.5]: Determine importance of Xo1 regions in immunity.- Objective [1.6]: Determine importance of Xo1 nuclear localization on immunity.- Objective [1.7]: Collect disease specimens and isolate Xoc strains. Pathotype collected strains.Goal [2]: to support mentored research, collaboration, and professional development experiences to position the PD for a career in plant pathology.- Objective [2.1]: mentor REU students and undergraduate research assistants- Objective [2.2]: work with collaborators on structural characterization of the rice immune receptor and/or the pathogen effectors via cryo-EM- Objective [2.3]: present at conferences, publish manuscripts, and maintain collaborations