N. J. Talbot

Bioengineering a plant NLR immune receptor with a robust binding interface towards a conserved fungal pathogen effector

The paper bioengineers a plant NLR receptor to recognize a conserved fungal effector, resulting in durable resistance against blast fungus isolates.

The blast effector Pwl2 is a virulence factor that modifies the cellular localisation of host protein HIPP43 to suppress immunity.

This study identifies Pwl2 as a virulence factor in the rice blast fungus that suppresses host immunity by altering the localization of HIPP43.

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.

Duplication and neofunctionalization of a horizontally-transferred xyloglucanase as a facet of the red queen co-evolutionary dynamic

The paper investigates the duplication and neofunctionalization of a horizontally-transferred xyloglucanase gene in oomycetes, showing how these variants contribute to plant pathogenesis and host-pathogen co-evolution.

Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses

The paper presents the first genome sequence of Coccomyxa viridis, a non-photobiont lichen-associated alga, revealing traits linked to its lichen lifestyle and providing insights into the evolution of lichen symbiosis.

The phosphorylation landscape of infection-related development by the rice blast fungus

This study maps the phosphorylation landscape of the rice blast fungus during infection, identifying key phosphoproteins and pathways involved in disease progression.

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.

Direct measurement of appressorium turgor using a molecular mechanosensor in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

The paper measures appressorium turgor in Magnaporthe oryzae using a molecular mechanosensor and FLIM, finding high turgor in mature appressoria and lower turgor in mutants.

The transcriptional landscape of plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae reveals distinct families of temporally co-regulated and structurally conserved effectors

A pandemic clonal lineage of the wheat blast fungus

The paper identifies a pandemic clonal lineage of the wheat blast fungus that originated in South America and spread to Asia and Africa, showing it can be controlled by Rmg8 but may develop fungicide resistance and recombine with African lineages.

Clathrin-mediated Endocytosis Facilitates Internalization of Magnaporthe oryzae Effectors into Rice Cells

This study shows that Magnaporthe oryzae uses clathrin-mediated endocytosis to internalize effector proteins into rice cells.

Selective MAP1LC3C (LC3C) autophagy requires noncanonical initiation regulators and the paralog-specific C-terminal peptide

This study identifies noncanonical regulators and a C-terminal peptide essential for LC3C-mediated selective autophagy targeting PDMBs in cancer stem cells.

PacC-dependent adaptation and modulation of host cellular pH controls hemibiotrophic invasive growth and disease development by the rice blast fungus

This study identifies the PacC-dependent pH signaling pathway in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, showing it regulates host pH changes and the switch between biotrophic and necrotrophic growth, essential for disease development.

Chitosan inhibits septin-mediated plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a Protein Kinase C and Nox1 NADPH oxidase-dependent manner

This study shows chitosan inhibits rice blast fungus infection by disrupting plasma membrane, NADPH oxidase, and septin-mediated processes.

A hierarchical transcriptional network controls appressorium-mediated plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

The paper identifies a hierarchical transcriptional network in Magnaporthe oryzae that regulates appressorium development and plant infection.

CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein-mediated co-editing and counterselection in the rice blast fungus

This paper develops a plasmid-free CRISPR-Cas9 method for efficient gene editing in the rice blast fungus, enabling precise mutations and isogenic strain creation.

The MoT3 assay does not distinguish between Magnaporthe oryzae wheat and rice blast isolates from Bangladesh

The paper evaluates the MoT3 assay's ability to distinguish wheat and rice blast isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae from Bangladesh and finds it fails to do so.