Plants have evolved a multi-faceted immune system to fight against pathogen infection. While necessary for survival, pathogen perception and the activation of immune responses are energetically taxing for the host and have been linked to considerable fitness costs. Although defence signalling pathways must therefore be tightly regulated, very little is known about the biochemical mechanisms that tailor signalling to maintain cellular homeostasis. 

Our research focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms that allow plants to defend against a vast array of potential pathogens while maintaining normal growth and development. 

To this end, our research projects address the following biological questions using varied approaches: 
  • What is the role of and interplay between different post-translational modifications on proteins involved in immune homeostasis?
  • What are the key regulators maintaining immune homeostasis and how do they function biochemically at the molecular level?   
  • What developmental pathways are affected by immune signaling?

Understanding the complexity of signalling events that underlie immune systems is integral to combating diseases that affect humanity. This includes plant diseases that pose a real threat to food security world-wide.