Autophagy and Cell Death in Plant-Microbe Interactions
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We investigate how plants respond to and defend against microbial pathogens, focusing on two fundamental, evolutionarily conserved processes: autophagy and programmed cell death.
Autophagy (Greek for "self-eating") is a key degradation and recycling system that maintains cellular homeostasis and contributes to stress tolerance. Programmed cell death (PCD) involves genetically controlled "suicide" pathways for the elimination of unwanted or damaged cells. Both are critical for plant health and immunity and are frequently subverted or hijacked by pathogens to promote infection.
We aim to identify the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks that control autophagy and PCD, explore their interplay during immune responses and disease progression, and uncover how pathogens manipulate these processes. We work primarily with the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana, and study interactions with a range of bacterial, viral, and oomycete/fungal pathogens. We also translate our findings to crops such as potato to support the development of more resilient and disease-resistant varieties.
(Please note that this page is still under construction. The old group website can be found via the link https://old.slu.se/en/departments/plant-biology-forest-genetics/research/groups/daniel-hofius/)