Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions Lab (Room#520)
(PI: Prof. Dr. Hyong Woo Choi)
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI) Lab are interested in interactions between (crop) plants and microbial pathogens. Plants equipped highly sophisticated surveillance systems which consist of cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cytoplsmic resistant proteins (R proteins). Activation of PRR and/or R proteins via cognate pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and/or effector proteins, respectively, trigger various mechanical and biochemical defense responses, including cell wall strengthening, defense-related hormone biosynthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, programmed cell death (PCD), pathogensis-related (PR) gene expression and etc. Especially, R protein-mediated defense response, termed effector-triggered immunity (ETI) accompanies systemic acquired resistance (SAR), which confers broad spectrum and long lasting disease resistance. In addition to PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and ETI, plants immunity can be heightened via various biotic and abiotic elicitors, including plant hormones, useful microorganisms and etc. We have been studied in understanding the mechanisms of plant innate immunity and microbial pathogenesis.
[Current Members]
Yeasmin Fatema (Graduate student, PhD Course)
A Yeong Heo (Graduate student, Master Course)
Young Mo Koo (Graduate student, Master Course)
Mee Jung Cho (Undergraduate)
Kyung Taek Park (Undergraduate)
[Research Funds]
- Province of Gyeongsangbuk-do (2020-2020)
- National Research Foundation of Korea (2019-2021)
- Brain Korea Plus 21 (2020-2026)
[Research Topics]
1) Understand host plant disease resistant/susceptibility mechanism
Plants are sessile organisms that are permanently restricted to their site of germination. To compensate for their lack of mobility, plants evolved sophisticated surveillance and defense mechanisms enabling them to rapidly react to pathogen invasion. Plant surveillance system is consist of different cell surface receptors (=pattern recognition receptor), resistant proteins (R-proteins), and downstream signaling components. Identification of new host-pathogen systems and following molecular and biochemical studies will be performed to understand host plant disease resistant and/or susceptibility mechanisms.
2) Development of disease control methods
Use of plant hormone, especially SA, and their derivatives seems very promising measure to control various diseases. Interestingly, SA upregulates basal defense in plants, whereas suppresses immune response of animals. Usefulness of combinational use of SA with other disease control methods will be explored to develop novel disease control methods in specific host-microbe interactions.
3) Identification of plant pathogenic fungi
They are important group of plant pathogens with insect, bacteria, virus and etc. Plant fungal diseases lead to annual economic losses that exceed 200 billion US dollars (Horbach et al., 2011) in pre- and post-harvest processes. In our lab, we isolate and identify the fungal pathogens from the various crop plants. For identification, microscopic observation, molecular diagnosis and pathological analyses can be performed
4) Genome-wide screening of SA binding proteins.
SA plays a key role in immune systems of both plants and humans. In most land plants, SA is a major plant defense-related hormone regulating various biotic and abiotic stress responses. From the human side, SA is the major metabolite and active ingredient of aspirin; both compounds reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. The demonstration that salicylate-based drugs exert beneficial effects on a number of chronic and devastating diseases, such as type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancers, suggests that future studies will identify an even more expansive role for salicylates as therapeutic agents. Understanding molecular target of SA in plant and human genomes will provide the insights into how SA might affect plant physiology and various human diseases.
5) HEMP research
As a special issue, our lab is also interested with use of HEMP plants (Cannabis sativa) as a medicinal source. HEMP contains high amount of SA derivatives (=salicylates), THCA and CBDA. Thus, further researches on HEMP will reveal interesting roles of salicylates in plants and humans.
[Recent SCI Publications]
2020
Lee EH, Park H, Kim B, Choi HW, Park KI, Kang IK, Cho YJ*. 2020. Anti-inflammatory effect of Malus domestica cv. Green ball apple peel extract on Raw 264.7 macrophages. Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry 63(2): 117−123.
Heo AY, Koo YM, Choi YJ, Kim SH, Chung GY and Choi HW* 2020. First Report of Peach Fruit Rot Caused by Fusarium avenaceum in Korea” Research in Plant Disease 36(1): 1–10.
Koo YM, Heo AY and Choi HW* 2020. Salicylic Acid as a Safe Plant Protector and Growth Regulator. The Plant Pathology Journal 36(1):1-10.
2019
Cho YJ, Lee EH, Yoo JG, Kwon SI, Choi HW, Kang IK 2019. Analysis of functional properties in the new Korean apple cultivar Arisoo. Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology. 60: 787–795.
Lim CW, Kim SH, Choi HW*, Luan S*, Lee SC*. 2019. The Shaker Type Potassium Channel, GORK, Regulates Abscisic Acid Signaling in Arabidopsis.” The Plant Pathology Journal 35(6):684-691
Choi HW, Wang L, Powell AF, Strickler SR, Wang D, Dempsey DA, Schroeder FC, Klessig DF. 2019. A genome-wide screen for human salicylic acid (SA)-binding proteins reveals targets through which SA may influence development of various diseases.” Scientific Reports 9(1):13084.
2018
Klessig DF, Choi HW and Dempsey DA. 2018. Systemic Acquired Resistance and Salicylic Acid: Past, Present and Future. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 31(9):871-888.
Kwon YH, Kang IK, Yoo J, Choi HW, Koh SW, Kim SJ, Park KS, Choi C. 2018. Effects of pruning and fertilization on the growth of highbush blueberry ‘Jersey’.” Horticultural Science and Technology 36(4):521-528.
2017
Manohar M, Wang D, Manosalva P, Choi HW, Kombrink E and Klessig DF. 2017. Members of the abscisic acid co-receptor PP2C protein family mediate salicylic acid–abscisic acid crosstalk.” Plant Direct 1(5): e00020.
Manohar M, Choi HW, Manosalva P, Austin CA, Peters JE and Klessig DF. 2017. Plant and Human MORC Proteins Have DNA-Modifying Activities Similar to Type II Topoisomerases, but Require One or More Additional Factors for Full Activity. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 30(2):87-100.
2016
Choi HW and Klessig DF. 2016 DAMPs, PAMPs/MAMPs, and NAMPs in Plant Innate Immunity. BMC Plant Biology 16 (1): 232.
Bordiya Y, Zheng Y, Nam JC, Bonnard AC, Choi HW, Lee BK, Kim J, Klessig DF, Fei Z and Kang HG. 2016. Pathogen Infection and MORC Proteins Affect Chromatin Accessibility of Transposable Elements and Expression of Their Proximal Genes in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 29(9):674-687.
Choi HW, Manohar M, Manosalva P, Tian M, Moreau M and Klessig DF. 2016. Activation of Plant Innate Immunity by Extracellular High Mobility Group Box 3 and Its Inhibition by Salicylic Acid. PLOS Pathogens 12(3):e1005518.
Klessig DF, Tian M and Choi HW. 2016. Multiple Targets of Salicylic Acid and Its Derivatives in Plants and Animals. Frontiers in Immunology 7:206.