A. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying host resistance to pathogens using genetic and genomic approaches.

We aim to understand the intricate dynamics of plant-pathogen interactions and the signal transduction pathways triggering immune responses. We analyze the functions of effector proteins from fungal pathogens and determine how these effectors target host proteins for defense suppression. Additionally, we strive to characterize immune receptors and investigate how they recognize fungal effectors and activate defense responses using both genetic and genomic approaches. Our long-term goal is to develop crop plants for disease resistance, aiming to reduce reliance on environmentally damaging pesticides.

B. Application of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) for sustainable agriculture.

CPPs are short peptides capable of enhancing the delivery of various cargos (proteins, DNA, and RNA) into cells. While extensively employed in delivering pharmacological therapeutics for human diseases, their applications in plants have been relatively limited. Recently, our lab has demonstrated that the new CPP MTD4 significantly enhances the delivery of defense activator proteins into plant cells. We are developing innovative strategies to apply MTD4 fusion proteins to control plant pathogens via foliar application, thereby contributing to sustainable crop production.