Plant pathogens grow in the extracellular spaces of plant issues. Many fungal and oomycete pathogens, including stripe rust, form specialized feeding structures known as haustoria that penetrate host cell walls. Project: Characterising the genomes of wheat stripe rust. Project: Protein function in plant immunity

How do lipids regulate ion channels?

Molecular simulations of immune re3ceptors to understand and treat autoimmune disease

We constantly try to identify new proteins that are involved in plant immunity, and use molecular techniques to understand their interaction partners and how they work together. The sorts of proteins we are interested are pathogen receptors, components of signal transduction pathways that elaborate the immune response, and pathogen virulence molecules called effectors that seek to destroy immunity. We use cutting edge biochemical techniques including high resolution mass spectrometry to perform these studies. It is a fascinating area because the pathogens always seek to evolve new proteins to overcome host immunity, and the plants must change their receptors and use innovative mechanisms to trap the pathogens.

This project will examine the structures and folding behaviour of autotransporter proteins and reengineered derivatives fused to target heterologous proteins. This will provide insights into factors that dictate their folding and enhance the production of recombinant proteins for research and commercial needs.

S. flexneri is subtyped into serotypes based on the combinations of antigenic determinants in the O-antigen. Addition of a glucosyl, O-acetyl or phosphoethanolamine residue to the O-antigen results in serotype conversion. We are investigating the genetic basis of the emergence and diversity of S. flexneri serotypes.