Submitted by Jennifer Lewis on
The plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae causes disease in a large number of different plant species. Virulence is primarily achieved by the type III secretion system, which secretes and translocates effector proteins into the plant. Many of these effector proteins are believed to suppress host defense signaling. However recognition of these effector proteins by resistance (R) proteins induces a defense response. The YopJ / HopZ family of effector proteins is evolutionarily diverse and found in both animal and plant pathogenic bacteria. HopZ1a is recognized by the ZAR1 resistance protein, which triggers a defense response, while other HopZ family members increase bacterial virulence (Ma et al, 2006; Lewis et al., 2008; Lewis et al., 2010). We use a wide range of plant species to investigate defense responses to P. syringae.
The Lewis lab seeks undergraduate students to assist in research on plant responses to bacterial pathogens. The candidate will assist with growing and propagation of several species of plants. The candidate will work closely with the lab’s principal investigator, Dr. Jennifer Lewis, and team members.
The student should strongly interested in learning and conducting basic research in plant pathology. The student should be motivated, conscientious, able to work independently and as part of a team. A class schedule that accommodates 3-4 hour blocks of time is necessary.