Reader Imperial College London London, England, United Kingdom
Pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate host cell membrane dynamics, enabling their survival within hostile environments shaped by innate immune responses. Understanding how pathogens strategically remodel host cellular interfaces remains a central challenge in molecular plant-microbe interactions. In this talk, I will present key findings illustrating how pathogens manipulate host membrane trafficking to suppress immunity and establish infection. Conversely, I will demonstrate how plants deploy nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors to counteract these strategies and restrict pathogen invasion. While current models propose that NLR resistosomes form calcium-permeable channels at the plasma membrane to trigger immune signaling, these frameworks inadequately explain the diverse immune responses orchestrated by diverse NLR families. We have uncovered an unexpected immune mechanism wherein a plant NLR specifically targets organellar membranes upon activation, expanding our understanding of immune receptor function beyond the plasma membrane paradigm. Our findings challenge conventional models of NLR activation and localization, opening promising avenues for engineering enhanced disease resistance in crops.
