Under the guidance of Dr. Guido Sessa, our lab conducts cutting-edge research on plant-microbe interactions with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial pathogenesis and host immune responses in plants. The primary goal of the Sessa lab is to unravel the molecular details of the interactions between bacterial pathogens and their plant hosts, with an emphasis on understanding the strategies employed by pathogens to infect plants and how plants respond to the infection. The lab consists of a diverse team of researchers, each contributing to different aspects of the field.

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The research in the Sessa lab covers various aspects of plant-pathogen interactions, including:

 

• Bacterial effector proteins

The lab investigates the role of effector proteins secreted by bacterial pathogens into plant cells during infection. These proteins can manipulate host cellular processes to promote bacterial growth, suppress plant immune responses, or cause disease symptoms.

 

• Plant immune responses

The lab studies the mechanisms by which plants recognize and respond to bacterial pathogens, including the activation of defense-related signaling pathways and the production of antimicrobial compounds.

 

• Host targets of bacterial effectors

The lab aims to identify and characterize the plant proteins targeted by bacterial effectors, which can provide insights into the strategies employed by pathogens to suppress host defenses and promote infection.

 

• Functional genomics and proteomics

The Sessa lab utilizes various high-throughput approaches, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, to study the global changes in gene expression and protein levels during plant-pathogen interactions.

 

Through our research, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions, which can inform the development of novel strategies for crop protection and disease management.