There are three main thematic areas in the Dangl-Grant lab. They all revolve around understanding the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions. Both the plant "receptors" (called R gene products) and the pathogen virulence proteins (called, in bacterial pathogens, Type III effector proteins) are similar in structure and evolutionary history to receptors and Type III effectors in animal-pathogen interactions. Therefore, our work is part of a minor revolution in so called "innate" or "ancient" immune systems biology.

We use all of the genomics tools imaginable in the Arabidopsis system - gene chips for transcriptional profiling, insertion mutants for reverse genetics, forward genetic screens using sophisticated conditional gene expression systems, and increasingly, biochemical tools like column chromatography, protein purification and mass spectroscopy.

The lab is highly integrated-people work in small groups that recognize the advantages of synergy and teamwork. The small groups have very undefined boundaries and there is a lot of cross fertilization of ideas and reagents. We are very much one group!

The four major topic areas are:

What is the distribution and nature of the Type III effector gene suite in Pseudomonas syringae? And how do Type III effectors target host proteins in order to facilitate infection?

What controls the rapid programmed cell death, termed the hypersensitive response (HR) that accompanies R gene action? In particular, what is the role of reactive oxygen intermediates and nitric oxide in this process?

Arabidopsis 2010 Project

Bioinformatics analysis of defense associated transcriptional networks