Research Themes

My research group is dedicated to understanding the biology of plant cell walls – the complex, polysaccharide-rich structures vital for plant development, growth, and environmental adaptation. 

We explore their dynamic assembly, maintenance, and diverse functional roles. A core interest lies in deciphering the biochemical interactions between distinct wall components and how these interactions modulate critical processes such as cell expansion, signal transduction, and overall plant physiology. Through a combination of molecular genetics, biochemistry, and advanced imaging techniques, our work aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing plant cell wall behaviour.

My research is broadly structured around the following interconnected themes:

Fundamental Biology of Cell Walls

Plant cell walls are dynamic, extracellular matrices crucial for myriad biological processes, including cell division, expansion, mechanical support, and environmental sensing. My research in this area aims to dissect the intricate principles governing how these complex structures are assembled, maintained, and remodelled throughout a plant's life cycle.

My focus includes Biosynthesis and Assembly, where I investigate the enzymatic pathways and cellular machinery involved in synthesizing and depositing major cell wall polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectins) and lignin. I also analyze the Structural Architecture, examining how individual components interact at a molecular and supramolecular level to form a robust yet adaptable matrix, employing techniques such as microscopy (confocal, electron microscopy), saccharide analysis, and biophysical methods. Furthermore, I study Dynamic Remodelling, understanding the mechanisms and regulatory networks that control wall modifications in response to developmental cues or changing physiological demands, including the role of wall-modifying enzymes and associated proteins. Lastly, my work explores Cell Wall Integrity Signalling, investigating how changes in wall composition or integrity are perceived by the plant cell, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that influence growth, development, and defense responses.

A deeper understanding of these fundamental aspects is critical for manipulating cell wall properties for applied purposes, such as enhancing crop yield, improving resistance to stresses, or optimizing biomass deconstruction.

Cell Wall Responses to Environmental Stress

Plants in natural and agricultural settings are constantly subjected to various environmental stresses, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient deficiencies. The cell wall acts as the plant's outermost boundary, making it an immediate point of interaction with these external pressures. My research focuses on elucidating the adaptive remodelling of cell walls in response to these abiotic stresses.

We employ advanced glycomic techniques, such as mass spectrometry and comprehensive microarray polymer profiling (CoMPP), to meticulously analyze stress-induced shifts in cell wall polysaccharide composition and architecture. This allows us to identify specific wall components that are up- or down-regulated under stress. By integrating glycomic data with genomic and transcriptomic approaches, we aim to identify novel genes encoding enzymes or regulatory proteins that orchestrate these stress-responsive wall modifications. We further use genetic manipulation (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, overexpression) to functionally characterize candidate genes, assessing their impact on cell wall integrity, plant growth, and overall stress tolerance. The insights gained from this research are aimed at pinpointing specific cell wall targets or genetic pathways that can be modulated to develop crops with enhanced resilience and improved performance in challenging environmental conditions.

Plant-Pathogen Interactions: The Wall as Defence

The plant cell wall serves as a crucial component of innate immunity, acting as both a physical barrier and a signaling platform in the complex interactions between plants and pathogens. My research in this area investigates the multifaceted roles of the cell wall in plant defense.

We study how plants rapidly strengthen their cell walls upon pathogen perception, for example, through targeted deposition of callose, lignin, or specific phenolics, to physically impede pathogen entry and spread. We also explore the role of receptor kinases and other proteins embedded in or associated with the cell wall that perceive pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released during infection; these receptors initiate downstream signaling cascades. A key focus is on the generation of bioactive oligosaccharides (e.g., oligogalacturonides, chito-oligosaccharides) from the cell wall during pathogen attack. We investigate how these "damage signals" are perceived by the plant to prime and amplify defense responses, inducing systemic acquired resistance or localized hypersensitive responses. Furthermore, we examine the reciprocal modifications occurring at the plant-pathogen interface, understanding how both host and pathogen strategically alter cell wall components to gain an advantage during infection. This research aims to deepen our understanding of plant immunity, identifying novel targets for enhancing disease resistance in crops.

Decoding Fungal Cell Walls for Disease Control

Fungal pathogens cause devastating losses in agriculture worldwide, threatening global food security. A key to developing effective control strategies lies in understanding the biology of the pathogen itself, particularly its cell wall, which is essential for fungal viability and pathogenicity. My research specifically focuses on the cell wall of fungal pathogens, with an emphasis on Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch in wheat.

We investigate the intricate composition and architecture of the fungal cell wall, which is primarily composed of chitin, β-glucans, and mannoproteins, aiming to understand the precise arrangement and dynamic modifications of these components throughout the fungal lifecycle. A central aspect of our work is to dissect how fungal cell wall remodelling enzymes and processes contribute to key stages of infection, including host invasion, establishment of infection, immune evasion from plant defenses, and transitions between different lifestyle stages (e.g., saprophytic vs. pathogenic). By identifying critical enzymes or pathways involved in fungal cell wall synthesis or remodeling that are essential for virulence, we aim to uncover novel vulnerabilities. These targets could be exploited for the rational design of next-generation fungicides with new modes of action, overcoming current resistance challenges and offering more sustainable crop protection solutions. We also engage in comparative studies of cell wall structures across different fungal species to identify conserved features that could serve as broad-spectrum targets. This research bridges fundamental fungal biology with applied agricultural needs, contributing directly to efforts to safeguard global food production.