Small RNAs in the plant-microbe interaction
Stress Biology Group

Plants face constant challenges from both harmful and beneficial microorganisms. When they encounter pathogens, plants activate defense programs and develop a priming stage to better respond to future infections. This priming helps reduce the fitness cost of constant defense activation. Fine-tuning gene expression is crucial for proper defense activation, and small RNAs (sRNAs) are a key mechanism for gene silencing. Different classes of sRNAs can inhibit gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Additionally, sRNA biogenesis components are regulated and can affect various aspects of plant development and stress response.
 

In the Stress Biology Group, I am focused on studying how sRNA biogenesis and activity modulate defense triggering, systemic signaling, and priming in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana using genetic and molecular biology methods.

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