Structure, evolution and function of fungal virulence effectors

- Abstract of the project

Our aim is to increase knowledge about pathogenicity factors of plant-pathogenic fungi (generally termed effectors) and in particular augment our understanding of their role in the infection process and in changes in virulence after host shifts (i.e. the increase in quantitative pathogenicity [=virulence] on the new host, once the capacity to  develop on the new host [=infectivity] is established) (Figure 1). A better understanding of the function and evolution of fungal effectors will help the development of more sustainable crop protection, e. g. by informing crop improvement programs about which immune receptors or susceptibility proteins have high potential to confer durable resistance. To reach our goal, we will generate and integrate knowledge on protein structure, mode of action and genetic diversity in a multidisciplinary project and address four specific objectives: (1) Infer the diversification history of effector repertoires after host shifts, (2) Understand the features determining the protein structure of effectors and its link to function, (3) Decipher the virulence functions of effectors by identifying the host proteins and processes they target, (4) Understand the proximate (i.e. molecular) and ultimate (i.e. eco-evolutionary) factors driving fungal effector diversification. To reasonably delimit the dimensions of the proposed work, we will focus on a family
of effectors that we have recently identified in the model fungal.

- Funding

The MagMAX project is supported by an ANR grant (2019-2023)

- Participants

- Marie Lenaour--Vernet (Ph.D student)

- Thomas Kroj (Researcher)

- Isabelle Meusnier (Engineer)

- Véronique Chalvon (Technician)