Sophien Kamoun talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper Paper in the field of Plant
& Animal Science. The author has also sent along an
image of his work.
Article Title: Emerging Concepts in Effector Biology of
Plant-Associated Organisms
Authors: Hogenhout, SA;Van der Hoorn, RAL;Terauchi,
R;Kamoun, S
Journal: MOL PLANT MICROBE INTERACTION, Volume: 22, Issue: 2,
Page: 115-122, Year: FEB 2009
* John Innes Ctr, Sainsbury Lab, Norwich NR4 7UH, Norfolk,
England.
* John Innes Ctr, Sainsbury Lab, Norwich NR4 7UH, Norfolk,
England.
* John Innes Ctr, Dept Dis & Stress Biol, Norwich NR4 7UH,
Norfolk, England. (addresses have been
truncated.)
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
At the moment, effector biology is a hot topic in the fields of plant
biology and plant pathology. Understanding the molecular function of
effectors (molecules secreted by plant-associated organisms to manipulate
their host plant) is currently viewed as critical for a mechanistic
understanding of plant colonization by other organisms.
Plant pathogen effectors
alter plant immunity.
+View larger image
In addition, this is a review article written by four authors that are
experts on different aspects of effector biology. As a consequence, we
covered a diversity of concepts and taxa whereas most review articles on
the subject tend to be more specialized. Finally, the journal Molecular
Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI) is the leading journal in the field.
MPMI is widely read, given that it is the flagship publication of
the International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
The review is a synthesis of the concepts that emerged from the study of
effectors of plant-associated organisms with a particular focus on concepts
that are common to a diversity of phylogenetic groups. Also, we attempted,
as much as possible, to include original ideas and prospects for research
in the field.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman’s terms?
Effector biology aims at understanding at the molecular level of how
plant-associated organisms manipulate their host plants and how plants
respond to these perturbations. Many of the organisms we covered are major
plant pathogens that present a significant threat to human welfare and
world food security. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms of
pathogenicity and plant immunity enables novel approaches to plant disease
management.
How did you develop the idea for this review, and
were there any problems along the way?
We were invited by the Editors of MPMI (Pietro Spanu and Jonathan
Walton) who wanted us to cover the emerging theme of "effectors in
plant-microbe interactions." The main challenge in putting the review
together was to decide how to structure the text and which topics to
emphasize. A key decision was to organize the review based on general
concepts that apply to multiple groups of plant-associated organisms.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future? Do you foresee any social or political implications for your
research?
My lab studies Phytophthora infestans, the potato blight pathogen
that is notorious for having triggered the Irish potato famine in the
mid-nineteenth century. We aim at understanding how exactly the effectors
of P. infestans alter plant immunity.
There are important social implications for this research and the food
security issue is high on the political agenda right now. Potato late
blight continues to cost modern agriculture billions of dollars annually
and also impacts subsistence farming in developing countries. The knowledge
gained from the study of P. infestans effectors can be used to
improve the breeding and deployment of disease resistant varieties.
Sophien Kamoun, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist and Head
The Sainsbury Laboratory
Norwich
United Kingdom Web