Elucidating the effector-delivery system of aphids (HOGENHOUT_J17DTP)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Graduate Office
Abstract
The green peach aphid (GPA), Myzus persicae, and other insects produce virulence proteins (effectors) in their saliva that interact with plant proteins (targets) to modulate key plant processes, such as plant defense responses, that make the plants more susceptible to aphid colonization. Work in the Hogenhout lab has focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which effector proteins act on host plants. This project aims to understand the mechanism by which aphids regulate the delivery of effector proteins into the plant.
Recent work in the lab has shown that aphid effector proteins interact with each other, and with components of the aphid chitin exoskeleton in a complex network. This project will build on this work, and test the hypothesis that the interactions of the effectors and the exoskeleton, coupled with transcriptional regulation, controls the release of effector proteins into the host plant.
The student will,
Test protein-protein interactions of aphid effectors to define the interaction network, and test their function by RNAi-mediated gene silencing in aphids.
Investigate the localization of the effector proteins in aphids stylets and plant tissues using immunogold labeling and fluorescent tags combined with transmission electron and confocal microscopy.
Examine if the aphid exoskeleton plays a role in the delivery of effector proteins by silencing the expression of exoskeleton components.
If successful, the project will uncover a fundamental aspect of plant-insect interactions, which will be valuable in the search for novel methods of insect pest control in crop plants.
Recent work in the lab has shown that aphid effector proteins interact with each other, and with components of the aphid chitin exoskeleton in a complex network. This project will build on this work, and test the hypothesis that the interactions of the effectors and the exoskeleton, coupled with transcriptional regulation, controls the release of effector proteins into the host plant.
The student will,
Test protein-protein interactions of aphid effectors to define the interaction network, and test their function by RNAi-mediated gene silencing in aphids.
Investigate the localization of the effector proteins in aphids stylets and plant tissues using immunogold labeling and fluorescent tags combined with transmission electron and confocal microscopy.
Examine if the aphid exoskeleton plays a role in the delivery of effector proteins by silencing the expression of exoskeleton components.
If successful, the project will uncover a fundamental aspect of plant-insect interactions, which will be valuable in the search for novel methods of insect pest control in crop plants.
| Description | BBSRC Plant Health ISP |
| Amount | £5,940 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | OpenPlant-Biomaker Challenge |
| Amount | £2,750 (GBP) |
| Organisation | OpenPlant Fund |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich |
| Organisation | The Sainsbury Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of aphid samples, (HPLC-purified) aphid extracts and plant pull downs to analyze by mass spectrometry. Contribution of aphid, microbial and plant sequence data to analyze the mass spectrometry data against. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sample analyses with mass spectrometry and help with interpretation of the mass spectrometry data output. |
| Impact | - An improved understanding of the physical properties of aphid elicitors that induce PTI-like plant defense responses. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Department of Plant Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Visited colleagues at University of Oxford to discuss specific project and experimental approaches |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed knowledge and resources for new experiments |
| Impact | Progress with achieving research goals by graduate student and postdoctoral researcher in the lab. Making plans for a collaborative research proposal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | UK-Kenya research consortium on insect-vectored (re)emerging plant diseases in East Africa |
| Organisation | Pwani University |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | (Re)emerging, insect-vectored plant pathogens present a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability in East Africa. However, the resource and expert capacity required to characterise and surveil pathogens is under-developed in the region. This research consortium will develop and implement genomics-based pathogen surveillance to inform disease management strategies. It will build local capacity to identify and mitigate current and future risks to sustainable agriculture. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Key personnel were identified and communication established between all partners. The partnership is formalised via material exchange through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a material transfer agreement (MTA) between Pwani University, Kenya and KEPHIS, Kenya. Two students, a Masters project and undergraduate project student enrolled at Pwani University. A large nation-wide survey was conducted and samples shared with PU and JIC. Pathogens have been formally identified and mitigation steps were taken. Funding awarded includes OpenPlant funding of £2700 and BBSCR Plant Health ISP funding of £5940. Consumables have been suppled to partner laboratories. |
| Impact | One master's student and one undergraduate project student enrolled with Pwani University. Novel partnerships within Kenya and between Kenya and UK institutes formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a material transfer agreement (MTA). OpenPlant-Biomaker Challenge funding awarded. An article published on the ACACIA website. An article published in the Biomaker Newsletter Jan 2020. JIC ISP funding of £5940 was awarded. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | UK-Kenya research consortium on insect-vectored (re)emerging plant diseases in East Africa |
| Organisation | The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (Re)emerging, insect-vectored plant pathogens present a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability in East Africa. However, the resource and expert capacity required to characterise and surveil pathogens is under-developed in the region. This research consortium will develop and implement genomics-based pathogen surveillance to inform disease management strategies. It will build local capacity to identify and mitigate current and future risks to sustainable agriculture. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Key personnel were identified and communication established between all partners. The partnership is formalised via material exchange through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a material transfer agreement (MTA) between Pwani University, Kenya and KEPHIS, Kenya. Two students, a Masters project and undergraduate project student enrolled at Pwani University. A large nation-wide survey was conducted and samples shared with PU and JIC. Pathogens have been formally identified and mitigation steps were taken. Funding awarded includes OpenPlant funding of £2700 and BBSCR Plant Health ISP funding of £5940. Consumables have been suppled to partner laboratories. |
| Impact | One master's student and one undergraduate project student enrolled with Pwani University. Novel partnerships within Kenya and between Kenya and UK institutes formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a material transfer agreement (MTA). OpenPlant-Biomaker Challenge funding awarded. An article published on the ACACIA website. An article published in the Biomaker Newsletter Jan 2020. JIC ISP funding of £5940 was awarded. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Outline Magazine Interview - Pint of Science 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To promote science conducted locally through Pint of Science, I gave a recorded interview for Outline Maganzine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | BBC Radio Norfolk Pint of Science interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To promote Science conducted locally through Pint of Science, I gave a live interview for BBC Radio Norfolk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | JIC - 50 years in Norwich LIVE BBC Radio Nofolk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To celebrate 50 years of the John Innes Centre and inform the public of the scientific output of the John Innes Centre, I gave a short interview about the research I conduct and to promote future engagement opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange between Prime Agriculture LLP and selected scientists |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I gave a seminar to a group of agricultural consultants from Prime Agriculture LLP as well as other scientists. The result of the talk was considerable dialogue and knowledge exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange for Agri-Tech East - NBI association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I presented a talk entitled 'Insect and virus resistant crops: through understanding molecular plant-insect interactions' during a knowledge exchange week for Agri-Tech East. The talk was an overview of the research approaches and key technology utilised by our laboratory group and others to study insect-plant-pathogen interactions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/agri-tech-week-2020-nrp-crops-and-non-chemical-pest-control-genetics-e... |
| Description | Pint of Science Festival Norwich 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As organiser of the Plant Health team during Pint of Science Festival 2018, I organised three evenings of scientific talks with more than 10 speakers and 100 atendees. We used interactive enhibits and quizes to establish dialgoue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |