Understanding how reactive oxygen species limit pathogen growth in the plant environment

Lay summary: Pseudomonas syringae is a plant pathogenic bacterium that can infect over 120 different plant species and is regarded as a model system for plant-microbe interactions. During infection, the pathogen can elicit plant defence strategies including the release of antimicrobial factors such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Within the species of P. syringae, different strains are adapted to infect different plant hosts and distinct groups of P. syringae strains exhibit varying abilities to tolerate ROS, yet we have little understanding of why - preliminary work suggests that factors including amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism may play a role.

This project aims to explore the roles of important amino acids - methionine and aromatic amino acids - in helping the bacteria tolerate ROS and survive in the plant infection context. This will combine bioinformatics approaches and laboratory techniques to further the understanding of these processes which could potentially lead to new ways of controlling plant disease caused by P. syringae.

BBSRC priority areas: This project aligns with two BBSRC priority areas: "Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food" and "Understanding the rules of life." Within the former, my research addresses several Strategic Framework focuses - the changing climate and persistent threats to global food security make protecting our crops from destructive pathogens crucial. My project investigates how a model plant pathogen resists and tolerates plant defence strategies, potentially leading to novel antimicrobial development to improve food security and sustainability.

Additionally, it explores how plant pathogens accumulate and synthesise key nutrients to survive in the plant environment, contributing to "Understanding the rules of life."