K. Fujisaki

Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

The paper identifies a functionally diverse family of Zinc-finger fold effectors in Magnaporthe oryzae, showing functional specialization across host species.

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.

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

Binding of a blast fungus Zinc-finger fold effector to a hydrophobic pocket in the host exocyst subunit Exo70 modulates immune recognition in rice

This paper reveals how the blast fungus effector AVR-Pii binds to rice Exo70, modulating immune recognition through a novel Zinc-finger fold and conserved hydrophobic interface.

A Jacalin-like lectin-domain-containing protein of Sclerospora graminicola act as an apoplastic virulence effector in plant-oomycete interactions

This study identifies SgJRL proteins from Sclerospora graminicola as apoplastic virulence effectors that suppress plant defense responses during infection.

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.

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.

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.