Jiorgos Kourelis

NLR immune receptors can exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns across legume species

This study identifies tissue-specific NLR expression patterns across legume species using phylogenomics and transcriptomics.

Conserved core and dynamic periphery NRC helper NLRs underpin immune receptor network evolution across Solanaceae

The paper investigates the evolution of NRC helper NLRs across Solanaceae, identifying conserved core and dynamic periphery subfamilies and their functional rewiring.

NbRD21 protease controls receptor kinase homeostasis in Nicotiana benthamiana

This study shows that NbRD21 protease regulates receptor-like kinase homeostasis in Nicotiana benthamiana by affecting their post-translational processing and endocytic recycling.

AI-guided discovery of atypical protein assemblies

The paper introduces SNI, a framework to identify atypical protein assemblies, and applies it to NLRs, finding an undecameric assembly in NRC7 orthologs.

A helper NLR channels organellar calcium to trigger plant immunity

This study identifies NRG1 as a plant NLR receptor that targets chloroplasts to trigger immunity by channeling stromal calcium into the cytosol, revealing a novel mechanism for organelle-specific immune signaling.

A broad-host-range Rhizobium rhizogenes strain enables transient expression across diverse crops and establishes functional assays in faba bean

The Pik NLR pair accumulates at the plasma membrane as a hetero-oligomeric sensor-helper immune protein complex prior to activation

The paper shows that the rice NLR pair Pik-1 and Pik-2 forms a hetero-oligomeric complex at the plasma membrane in the resting state before effector activation.

Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector

The paper shows that NRC3 evolved to resist suppression by a nematode effector, revealing a new type of gene-for-gene interaction between pathogens and host immune receptors.

A hierarchical immune receptor network in lettuce reveals contrasting patterns of evolution in sensor and helper NLRs

The paper analyzes NLR evolution in lettuce and related species, finding that sensor NLRs evolve faster than helper NLRs and that sensor diversification is linked to helper dependency.

A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity

This study determines the structure of sensor-activated NbNRC2 using cryo-EM, revealing a hexameric resistosome and highlighting structural changes during NLR activation.

Bioengineering secreted proteases converts divergent Rcr3 orthologs and paralogs into extracellular immune co-receptors

This study bioengineers proteases to convert Rcr3 orthologs and Pip1 into immune co-receptors that trigger Avr2/Cf-2 dependent immunity in tomato.