Decoding calcium pathway activated by plant intracellular immune receptors

Plant diseases have been causing global issues to agriculture, economy, and humanity.

Understanding how plant disease resistance works is vital to finding durable and sustainable solutions to protect our crops.

One key molecular hallmark of plant immune activation is mediated by calcium signalling, which is a commonly shared and well-known second messenger in all cellular organisms.

However, it has been overlooked how calcium signalling is activated by plant intracellular nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs), which are often one of the main genetic resources of plant breeding for disease resistance.

In addition, upon activation, it is not known how the immune receptors activate a large scale of defence genes via calcium signalling.

To answer these questions, I will be addressing three objectives: 1) Decoding compartmentalized calcium dynamics activated by intracellular immune receptors (NLRs); 2) Characterizing the role of helper NLRs in producing calcium signatures and transcriptional reprogramming; 3) Identifying calmodulins (calcium-binding proteins) that interact with key transcription factors to decode the calcium signature during effector-triggered immunity mediated by NLRs.

I will use an interdisciplinary approach combining cell biology, genetics, and multi-omics.

The outcome of this study will expand our understanding of plant immunity and provide novel insights for crop breeding specifically tailored to counter hazardous pathogens.

I aim to 1) broaden my expertise in plant signalling research; 2) expand my toolbox of cellular biology and genetics; 3) develop the leadership skills required for managing a research group. Furthermore, I will strengthen my scientific track record and network. This DeCaETI project will be performed at the Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University.

Implementation of the project will support me to run this project successfully and advance my career to become an independent future leader.