Plants and animals, under constant attack by microbes, have evolved sophisticated immune systems to defend against infections. In turn, successful pathogens have developed elegant virulence strategies to suppress host immunity. Long-standing association between hosts and microbes has resulted in both acquiring specific adaptations which maximize their own survival and productivity.
Our laboratory is interested in elucidating novel plant immune signaling pathways as well as studying the myriad actions of pathogen virulence factors that intercept host immune responses. In order to provide a complete view of host-microbe interactions, we are using cellular, functional genomic, genetic, biochemical and bioinformatic approaches. In addition, plant immunity is inextricably linked with plant development and environmental stresses. We are also interested in understanding the signaling crosstalk that orchestrates plant responses to different extrinsic and intrinsic signals. Ultimately, knowledge gained from studying model plants, such as Arabidopsis, will be applied to improve crop plants for resistance against different biotic and abiotic stresses.
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- Pullela SR, Cristancho D, He P, Luo D, Hall KR & Cheng Z (2009) Temperature dependence of the Oregonator model for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. Phys Chem Chem Phys 11: 4236-43
- Mejia AF, He P, Luo D, Marquez M & Cheng Z (2009) Uniform discotic wax particles via electrospray emulsification. J Colloid Interface Sci 334: 22-8
- Shan L, He P, Li J, Heese A, Peck SC, Nürnberger T, Martin GB & Sheen J (2008) Bacterial effectors target the common signaling partner BAK1 to disrupt multiple MAMP receptor-signaling complexes and impede plant immunity. Cell Host Microbe 4: 17-27
- Chen Z, Agnew JL, Cohen JD, He P, Shan L, Sheen J & Kunkel BN (2007) Pseudomonas syringae type III effector AvrRpt2 alters Arabidopsis thaliana auxin physiology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104: 20131-6
- Shan L, He P & Sheen J (2007) Intercepting host MAPK signaling cascades by bacterial type III effectors. Cell Host Microbe 1: 167-74
- Xiao F, He P, Abramovitch RB, Dawson JE, Nicholson LK, Sheen J & Martin GB (2007) The N-terminal region of Pseudomonas type III effector AvrPtoB elicits Pto-dependent immunity and has two distinct virulence determinants. Plant J 52: 595-614
- He P, Shan L & Sheen J (2007) Elicitation and suppression of microbe-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity in plant-microbe interactions. Cell Microbiol 9: 1385-96
- Sheen J & He P (2007) Nuclear actions in innate immune signaling. Cell 128: 821-3
- He P, Shan L & Sheen J (2007) The use of protoplasts to study innate immune responses. Methods Mol Biol 354: 1-9
- Shang Y, Li X, Cui H, He P, Thilmony R, Chintamanani S, Zwiesler-Vollick J, Gopalan S, Tang X & Zhou JM (2006) RAR1, a central player in plant immunity, is targeted by Pseudomonas syringae effector AvrB. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103: 19200-5
- He P, Shan L, Lin NC, Martin GB, Kemmerling B, Nürnberger T & Sheen J (2006) Specific bacterial suppressors of MAMP signaling upstream of MAPKKK in Arabidopsis innate immunity. Cell 125: 563-75
- He P, Chintamanani S, Chen Z, Zhu L, Kunkel BN, Alfano JR, Tang X & Zhou JM (2004) Activation of a COI1-dependent pathway in Arabidopsis by Pseudomonas syringae type III effectors and coronatine. Plant J 37: 589-602
- He P, Friebe BR, Gill BS & Zhou JM (2003) Allopolyploidy alters gene expression in the highly stable hexaploid wheat. Plant Mol Biol 52: 401-14
- He P, Warren RF, Zhao T, Shan L, Zhu L, Tang X & Zhou JM (2001) Overexpression of Pti5 in tomato potentiates pathogen-induced defense gene expression and enhances disease resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14: 1453-7
- Shan L, He P, Zhou JM & Tang X (2000) A cluster of mutations disrupt the avirulence but not the virulence function of AvrPto. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 13: 592-8
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Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics