H. Saitoh

Importin α Characterizes a Micronuclear Environment Associated with Genomic Instability in Human Cancer Cells

The paper identifies importin α as a marker of a distinct micronuclear environment in cancer cells, associated with genomic instability and immune evasion.

Barley MLA3 recognizes the host-specificity determinant PWL2 from rice blast (M. oryzae)

The paper shows that the barley NLR Mla3 recognizes the rice blast effector PWL2, conferring resistance in a dosage-dependent manner.

Can SARS-CoV-2 transmit from a dead body?

This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 transmission from dead bodies using a hamster model, finding that transmission is possible but can be prevented by postmortem care and embalming.

Disentangling the complex gene interaction networks between rice and the blast fungus identifies a new pathogen effector

Apoplastic CBM1-interacting proteins bind conserved carbohydrate binding module 1 motifs in fungal hydrolases to counter pathogen invasion

The paper identifies OsCBMIP, a rice protein that binds to fungal CBM1 domains in xylanases, inhibiting their activity and enhancing rice defense against M. oryzae.

A genetically linked pair of NLR immune receptors show contrasting patterns of evolution

This paper studies the evolution of a rice NLR gene pair, showing that the sensor NLR undergoes dynamic domain integration under balancing selection, while the helper NLR remains functionally conserved under purifying selection.

Multiple variants of the blast fungus effector AVR-Pik bind the HMA domain of the rice protein OsHIPP19 with high affinity.

The paper identifies how multiple AVR-Pik variants bind OsHIPP19 with high affinity, revealing structural differences that enhance binding compared to Pik-1's HMA domain.

The blast pathogen effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice heavy metal-associated (HMA) proteins to co-opt their function in immunity

This study shows that the fungal effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice HMA proteins, co-opting their function to suppress immunity, while also triggering immunity in plants with integrated HMA domains in NLRs.

The rice NLR pair Pikp-1/Pikp-2 initiates cell death through receptor cooperation rather than negative regulation

This study shows that the rice NLR pair Pikp-1/Pikp-2 activates immunity through receptor cooperation, not negative regulation, by forming complexes with the effector AVR-PikD.

Cross-reactivity of a rice NLR immune receptor to distinct effectors from the blast pathogen leads to partial disease resistance

This study shows that a rice NLR receptor can recognize a structurally similar effector from a different pathogen, leading to partial resistance.

Lessons in effector and NLR biology of plant-microbe systems

The paper examines three effectors from the rice blast fungus and their corresponding rice NLR immune receptors to highlight general concepts of plant-microbe interactions and identify 12 lessons in effector and NLR biology.