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RESEARCH PROJECTS
Molecular characterisation of Ralstonia solanacearum type III pathogenicity determinants
A major step in understanding pathogenesis was the discovery of the key role played by hrp genes in the process. These genes encode a type III protein secretion machinery that delivers bacterial effector proteins  into host cells, in an engaging example of information transfer between evolutionary distant organisms. Sequencing of the complete genome of the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum, a model plant pathogen, recently led to the discovery of a number of candidate genes for type III effectors.
The research of this nascent group is oriented towards the characterisation of novel R. solanacearum effectors so as to unravel their molecular function and their contribution to disease. The process includes a) study of the expression profile of candidate genes, b) disruption of each structural gene and analysis of the resulting phenotype regarding pathogenicity, c) demonstration of effector translocation into plant cells, d) determination of the sub-cellular localisation of bacterial effectors inside the plant and e) identification of molecular targets in the eukaryotic host.
Staff
Dr. Marc Valls
Predocs
Montserrat Solé
Collaborators
Dr. Christian Boucher and Dr. Stéphane Genin, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes (CNRS-INRA), Toulouse, France
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