Sebastian Eves‐van den Akker

Diversity at the HYP1 locus in potato cyst nematodes does not result from developmentally-programmed somatic mutations

The paper investigates whether diversity at the HYP1 locus in potato cyst nematodes arises from developmental editing or sequencing errors, concluding it is due to evolutionary forces.

Better late than never: the impact of hatching time on Heterodera schachtii parasitism

This study investigates how hatching time affects the parasitism of beet cyst nematodes, finding that late hatchers are more infective due to differences in energy use and gene expression.

A cross-kingdom interactome predicted by AlphaFold3 reveals a DNF2-centered interface required for symbiotic accommodation

The paper uses AlphaFold3 to predict a cross-kingdom interactome between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti, identifying DNF2 as a key hub for host-symbiont communication.

3D printing and deep learning enable holistic and dynamic analyses of tens of thousands of parasites infecting hundreds of genotypes

This study uses 3D printing and deep learning to analyze parasite dynamics across hundreds of plant genotypes, identifying host genetic control of parasite traits and new QTLs.

The host range paradox of Meloidogyne incognita: a physiological and transcriptomic analysis of nine susceptible interactions across six plant orders

This paper investigates how Meloidogyne incognita infects diverse plant species by analyzing transcriptomic responses across nine plant interactions, finding distinct transcriptional programs and effector deployment patterns that influence host specificity.

A transcription factor-pair work in concert to regulate gene expression across the life cycle of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

This study identifies two transcription factors in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus that non-redundantly regulate gene expression across its life cycle, with distinct roles in parasitism and reproduction.

Antagonistic action of a nuclear hormone receptor pair coordinates a switch from lytic to biotrophic effector production in a plant-parasitic nematode

This study identifies DGR-1 as a transcription factor that switches from lytic to biotrophic effector production in plant-parasitic nematodes, working antagonistically with SUGR-1 to regulate effector expression during infection.

The sugar-beet cyst nematode effector Hs2B11 targets the Arabidopsis serine protease inhibitor AtPR-6 to favor parasitism

This study identifies Hs2B11 as a nematode effector that interacts with AtPR-6 to suppress plant immunity and enhance parasitism.

A trehalase-derived MAMP triggers LecRK-V-mediated immune responses in Arabidopsis

The paper identifies trehalase-derived peptides as MAMPs that trigger LecRK-V-mediated immune responses in Arabidopsis, enabling broad-spectrum pathogen detection.

DNA-protein interactions in Meloidogyne incognita

This paper develops an optimized dCas9-based CAPTURE method for studying DNA-protein interactions in the nematode Meloidogyne incognita, identifying chromatin-associated proteins involved in effector gene regulation.

A gene with a thousand alleles: the HYPer-variable effectors of plant-parasitic nematodes

The paper discovers unprecedented allelic variation in HYP effectors of plant-parasitic nematodes, revealing a novel mechanism of programmed genetic variation called HVD-editing.

The genome and lifestage-specific transcriptomes of a plant-parasitic nematode and its host reveal susceptibility genes involved in trans-kingdom synthesis of vitamin B.

The paper identifies susceptibility genes involved in trans-kingdom vitamin B synthesis between a plant-parasitic nematode and its host, revealing a horizontal gene transfer critical for parasitism.

Genome expression dynamics reveals parasitism regulatory landscape of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and a promoter motif associated with effector genes

The paper analyzes the spatio-temporal gene expression of Meloidogyne incognita across its life stages and identifies a conserved promoter motif associated with effector genes.

Towards genetic modification of plant-parasitic nematodes: delivery of macromolecules to adults and expression of exogenous mRNA in second stage juveniles.

This paper develops methods for delivering macromolecules and expressing exogenous mRNA in plant-parasitic nematodes, advancing functional genetic tools for these pests.

Extensive transcriptional changes in the aphid species Myzus cerasi under different host environments associated with detoxification genes

This study examines transcriptional changes in Myzus cerasi aphids across different host environments, finding extensive plasticity with redox-related genes and differential exon usage.

The genome of the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) reveals complex patterns of duplications involved in the evolution of parasitism genes

The paper assembles and annotates the genome of the soybean cyst nematode, revealing duplications and horizontal gene transfer events in effector genes involved in parasitism.

Shared transcriptional control and disparate gain and loss of aphid parasitism genes and loci acquired via horizontal gene transfer

The paper analyzes aphid genomes to understand gene evolution and horizontal gene transfer, finding shared transcriptional control of effector genes involved in parasitism.