Epigenetic profiling of cereal fungal invaders

Wheat blast and rusts are fungal diseases that severely damage cereal production worldwide. During infection, these fungi secrete proteins into wheat plants to reprogramme host plant circuitry, supporting their own growth and development. A subset of effectors, termed avirulence factors (Avr), can be recognised by corresponding host resistance (R) proteins, rendering the pathogen avirulent and halting its growth.

However, host recognition creates strong evolutionary pressure on pathogen Avr effectors, favouring their modification to evade immune responses. This leads to frequent emergence of new virulent pathogen races, compromising R-gene mediated resistance and limiting longevity of R genes. The mechanisms leading to changes in pathogen Avr effectors are diverse.

Yet, one potential, understudied strategy for pathogens to avoid recognition is to conceal Avr proteins by preventing their synthesis - a process regulated by epigenetic switching.

The student will use an array of approaches to determine the contribution of epigenetic switching of Avr factors in the evolution of new wheat blast and rust strains. This will include conducting genome-wide analysis of epigenetic marks in blast and rust strains, whilst determining the contribution of specific epigenetic regulators to fungal virulence and development in the genetically tractable wheat blast fungus.

This project provides a unique opportunity to join two leading multidisciplinary research teams at the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, which are centers of excellence in plant science and plant-microbe interactions.