Plant and Microbial Biology Seminar: “Roles of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in plant host colonisation: a structure-function study”

Stefanie Ranf, Chair, Phytopathology, Technical University of Munich
Both, animals and plants sense invading pathogens through conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), by specific host pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) and trigger innate immune responses. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacterial cell walls strongly activates several immune receptors in mammals. LPS also triggers immune defences in plants. We have recently identified a key component of LPS signalling, the receptor-like kinase LORE (LipoOligosaccharide-specific Reduced Elicitation). As a highly restrictive barrier, LPS is also an important virulence factor. In my current projects, I want to characterize the properties of LPS as stimulator of plant immunity and its role as virulence factor during plant infection.