Plant Immunolgy Group - Detailed - Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology
Plant Immunolgy Group
Plant Immunology Group - Detailed
Last modified: 06. October 2022
Introduction of the group main research group
Research in the Plant Immunology Group is focusing on the understanding of the molecular details of plant antiviral defenses. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of diseases caused by viruses is also of interest to the group. The tools of modern molecular biology and genome editing are employed to achieve the above goals.
Ongoing projects
- Study of the role of AGO2 in antiviral defenses in Solanaceous plants
- Understanding the molecular details of virus induced necrotic processes
- Unraveling the background of the tomato disease caused by Pepino Mosaic Virus
Description of the projects
1. Study of the role of AGO2 in antiviral defenses in Solanaceous plants
In this project we aim to better understand the function of the main antiviral argonaute protein, AGO2. Recently, we have created an ago2 mutant of Nicotiana benthamiana, which is a widely used model plant for Solanaceous crops. Using this model system, we wish to examine the involvement of AGO2 in the various antiviral immune responses. To obtain a more complete picture of antiviral RNA silencing, we also attempt to identify novel components of the pathway.
2. Understanding the molecular details of virus induced necrotic processes
Plants employ multiple defense mechanisms to restrict viral infections, among which the adaptive RNA silencing is the best understood. Activation of innate immunity often leads to both local and systemic necrotic responses, which limit the spread of the invading virus and can also provide resistance to distal, non-infected parts of the organism. Unlike RNA silencing, the mechanistic details and regulation of the latter processes are just beginning to emerge. The aim of this project is to identify candidate genes, which are involved in virus induced necrosis. We also wish to functionally characterize these genes. The identified genes may represent potential novel sources of viral resistance.
3. Unraveling the background of the tomato disease caused by Pepino Mosaic Virus
Many agriculturally valuable crops belong to the Solanaceae family, including tomato the economically most important vegetable worldwide. Tomato production is highly affected by viral diseases that are responsible for millions of dollars in production losses. Many viruses infecting tomato have been described, while new viral diseases keep emerging. Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) is a rapidly spreading virus, which has established itself as one of the most important viral diseases in tomato production over recent years. Earlier observations raised the possibility that the tomato orthologue of AGO2 may contribute to PepMV resistance. In this project we aim to examine this hypothesis by inactivating the tomato AGO2 gene using genome editing. Our work will help the better understanding of the PepMV elicited tomato diseases and also contribute to the development of more efficient plant protection technologies.
Recent relevant publications
- Wang Y, Gong Q, Wu Y, Huang F, Ismayil A, Zhang D, Li H, Gu H, Ludman M, Fátyol K, Qi Y, Yoshioka K, Hanley-Bowdoin L, Hong Y, Liu Y.
A calmodulin-binding transcription factor links calcium signaling to antiviral RNAi defense in plants.
CELL HOST MICROBE (2021) 29(9):1393-1406.e7. IF: 21.023
doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.07.003
- Ludman M, Fátyol K*
Targeted inactivation of the AGO1 homeologues of Nicotiana benthamiana reveals their distinct roles in development and antiviral defence
NEW PHYTOLOGIST (2021) 229(3):1289–1297. IF: 10,151
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1111/nph.16992
- Chen AYS, Peng JHC, Polek M, Tian T, Ludman M, Fátyol K, Ng JCK
Comparative analysis identifies amino acids critical for citrus tristeza virus (T36CA) encoded proteins involved in suppression of RNA silencing and differential systemic infection in two plant species
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY (2021) 22(1):64-76. IF: 5,663
doi: 10.1111/mpp.13008
- Pasin F, Shan H, García B, Müller M, San León D, Ludman M, Fresno DH, Fátyol K, Munné-Bosch S, Rodrigo G, García JA
Abscisic Acid Connects Phytohormone Signaling with RNA Metabolic Pathways and Promotes an Antiviral Response that Is Evaded by a Self-Controlled RNA Virus
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS (2020) 1(5):100099.
doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100099
- Fátyol K*
In vivo reporter system for miRNA mediated RNA silencing: RNA tagging METHODS AND PROTOCOLS - METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2020) 2166:431-450.
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0712-1_25
- Fátyol K*, Fekete AK, Ludman M
Double-Stranded-RNA-Binding Protein 2 Participates in Antiviral Defense.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY (2020) 94(11):e00017-20. IF: 5,103
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1128/JVI.00017-20
- Ludman M, Fátyol K*
The virological model plant, Nicotiana benthamiana expresses a single functional rdr6 homeolog.
VIROLOGY (2019) 537: 143-148. IF: 3,315
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.08.017
- Paudel DB, Ghoshal B, Jossey S, Ludman M, Fátyol K, Sanfaçon H
Expression and antiviral function of ARGONAUTE 2 in Nicotiana benthamiana plants infected with two isolates of tomato ringspot virus with varying degrees of virulence.
VIROLOGY. (2018) 524:127-139. IF: 3,374
doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.08.016
- Ludman M, Burgyán J, Fátyol K*
CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Inactivation of Argonaute 2 Reveals its Differential Involvement in Antiviral Responses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2017) 7(1):1010. IF: 4,259
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01050-6
- Fátyol K*, Ludman M, Burgyán J
Functional dissection of a plant Argonaute.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (2016) 44(3):1384-1397. IF: 10,162
*levelező szerző
doi: 10.1093/nar/gkv1371
Grant support:
2017/09/01-2022/08/31 Study of the molecular mechanisms of antiviral RNA silencing in Solanaceous plants; K124715, NKFIH 48 million Ft; Project leader: Károly Fátyol
2022/12/01-2026/11/30 Az Argonauta fehérjék szerepének feltárása az ausztrál vad dohány (Nicotiana benthamiana) RNS csendesítési folyamataiban; K142626, NKFIH 48 million Ft; Project leader: Károly Fátyol
Group members
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Márta Ludman, scientific associate Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, Plant Immunology Group M.Sc.: Biologist with major in plant biology, 2013, ELTE Phone: +36-28/430-494 |