Our research endeavours to unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms employed by pathogenic fungi to manipulate host plants and cause disease. Additionally, we aim to understand how plants recognise fungal virulence proteins, thereby activating defence pathways.

During infection, fungal plant pathogens secrete proteins, known as effectors, that function in the apoplast and inside plant cells to promote pathogen virulence. Despite their importance, our understanding of effector function and how they are detected by immunity receptors, particularly cell surface receptors remains poor. In this seminar, I will present an update on the latest advancements made in the field of plant immunity receptor engineering and the work my group is doing to further our understanding of fungal effector detection in the apoplast. To conclude, I will discuss how we are currently leveraging this newfound knowledge to develop approaches aimed at enhancing disease resistance in crops.

Simon is an Associate Professor and Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow at the Australian National University, where he leads the "Plant Structural Immunology" research group within the Division of Plant Science in the Research School of Biology. Simon's research endeavours focus on unravelling the intricate mechanisms underlying plant responses to biotic stress and the molecular pathways that adapted pathogens target to cause disease. His research program combines structural biology, protein biochemistry, synthetic biology, and plant biology to dissect these complex systems. With a keen emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, Simon and his team aim to develop novel strategies for disease prevention in plants.