“From genomics to effectors: how do oomycetes and fungi cause disease,” will be presented by Brett Tyler, Oregon State University. The seminar begins at 4 p.m. Dec. 5, preceded by a reception at 3:30 p.m. The seminar is free and open to the public.
Oomycete and fungal pathogens cause billions of dollars of damage to crops, forestry and ornamental plantings each year. Tyler has generated draft genome sequences for diverse oomycete pathogens. Comparisons among these genome sequences using data mining techniques have identified large numbers of rapidly evolving genes, including toxin and effector genes, that are likely involved in the interaction with host plants. One family of effectors, the RxLR effectors, is particularly large (130-550 per genome) and rapidly evolving.
RxLR effectors enter host cells by binding cell surface phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate, and functionally similar effectors have been found in fungi and insects. Combining transcriptional profiling with mathematical modeling and high throughput functional screens for plant defense suppression has revealed an elite subset of effectors that appears to be responsible for most of the contribution of this family to virulence.
The seminar begins at 4 p.m., preceded by a reception at 3:30 p.m. The seminar is free and open to the public. The Beadle Center is located at 1901 Vine Street. The complete schedule of seminars may be found at http://biotech.unl.edu/
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/4pb