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Plenary Session

Session: Plenary Session 8 & Closing Remarks

Fungal pathogens co-opt ancient antimicrobials for host manipulation

Thursday, July 17, 2025
18:20 - 18:45  
Location: Confex Hall 1+2

Recent research delves into the evolutionary origins and functional roles of fungal effector proteins, crucial for plant colonization. While traditionally known for suppressing plant immunity, some effectors now emerge as disruptors of beneficial host microbiota, altering the microbial landscape to favor pathogens. To explore these antimicrobial effectors, we developed AMAPEC, a bioinformatics tool. Our analysis reveals a diverse array of these proteins across fungal genomes, many conserved across evolutionary time. Intriguingly, some also manipulate plant immunity, suggesting a dual role. Phylogenetic and functional analyses trace these dual-function effectors back to ancient antimicrobial origins, reshaping our view of fungal pathogen interactions with hosts and associated microorganisms. These findings promise new insights into effector evolution and disease management strategies.