Alba Moreno Perez (left) and Danielle Stevens (right)

This is the first spotlight in our series highlighting early-career scientists and their recent discoveries. Meet graduate student Danielle Stevens and postdoctoral scientist Dr. Alba Moreno Pérez from the Coaker lab at UC Davis. Their work on the natural variation of immune epitopes was recently published in PNAS. Learn about their advice for choosing and navigating graduate school, their scientific inspirations, and their new paper.

Q&A with Dani Stevens

Q What research project are you most excited about right now?

A As I am wrapping up my Ph.D., the discoveries I made have only led to more questions and more future project ideas. During the heart of the pandemic, I noticed most of the MAMP research was focused on characterizing the biochemical and immune outcomes of a handful of MAMPs. With so many bacterial genomes already in NCBI, I quickly realized there is an opportunity to understand the impact of epitope evolution on immune outcomes. For example, I found that multicopy csp22 epitopes can have differential immune outcomes in tomato, impacting pathogen colonization. This was one of our findings in our recent PNAS paper.

Now, I have many follow-up questions on these interactions. For example, how do different immune outcomes impact bacterial protein function? Does an intermediary PTI response provide any resistance locally or induce SAR distally? How do perception and immune outcomes change in other relative plants?

In particular, the csp22 receptor CORE is restricted to the Solanaceous family, which contains hundreds of species, and other plant species are found to respond to csp22 epitopes, though they do not encode a CORE homolog. Currently, we do not have a great understanding of the evolution of CORE, other convergently evolved csp22-receptors, and their receptor perception capabilities. With tens to thousands of receptors encoded within land plants, how do we better understand ligand-receptor interactions at scale and potentially engineer de novo receptors. These are questions I am hoping to answer during my postdoc research in Dr. Ksenia Krasileva's lab at UC Berkeley.

But, if you ever meet me in person, I have (maybe too) many questions around PTI and microbial evolution. J

Q What drew you to the Coaker lab?

A I leaned about the Coaker lab after reading a paper published in MPMI for a class I was taking during my senior year of as an undergraduate student. I had spent several years working on an actinobacterial pathogen and wanted to keep working on these understudied organisms. Additionally, Gitta Coaker was highly recommend for her mentorship abilities, and I could quickly tell it was a great fit. I feel thankful for my colleagues who helped point me in her direction and for having the opportunity to be part of her lab.

Q How did you choose to join the graduate program at UC Davis?

A I have worked in host-pathogen interactions since my first research project, yet I don't see myself as a plant pathologist, at least not in the traditional sense. My undergraduate degree is in biochemistry and biophysics, and I spent a summer at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology. I always have valued diverse training and, thus, sought graduate programs with this in mind, particularly focusing on those that emphasize bioinformatics, computational biology, or genomics and that allow me to conduct research in plant-microbe interactions. I landed at UC Davis as it has numerous well-regarded plant-focused departments and a well-established genetics and genomics graduate program.

Q What advice would you give to graduate students who are just starting out?

A Be curious and flexible, read broadly and often, yet keep focused on the major questions, areas, and systems that most interest you. Sometimes the most interesting and worthwhile projects are ones you may have not planned for. Alternatively, there are far more opportunities and ideas than any one person has the time for, so it also is important to be selective. Trying to maintain this balance with funding in mind is not easy, but it is incredibly rewarding.

Q Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?

A As any young scientist, I use to look up the "greats" in our field. As I have gotten older, however, I have come to realize I am much more inspired by the handful of incredible scientists who have mentored me professionally and personally. These individuals have taught me so much, treated me with kindness and respect, and provided me opportunities and independence, all while maintaining a positive life outside of their academic careers.

Q Are you involved in other scientific/professional development activities? How do these contribute to your training?

A As I approach graduation, I am gradually winding down some activities to refresh before starting my next position. I want to highlight two key scientific activities that shaped my training. First, I served on my graduate group's admissions committee for three years. This role was incredibly rewarding, as I could provide a diverse perspective and impact our incoming class. Second, I organized and ran a student-focused seminar series for genetics students. Unlike some graduate programs, genetics (also known as IGG) spans many departments and buildings, making it difficult for our community to come together. The seminar provided an opportunity for students to gather, share their science, and support each other's progress. Both experiences were rewarding and contributed significantly to my training.

Q What is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career? What did you do to overcome this challenge?

A I think the most rewarding and challenging aspects of my career all revolve around people. I found it is important to stick to and stand up for one's values. However, also having grace and patience can do wonders in conflict.

Q How can people find you on social media?

A X: @Dani_M_Stevens

Q What's your favorite story from an IS-MPMI society meeting?

A I don't have a particular story to share, but I have enjoyed my last two IS-MPMI meetings and look forward to the next.

Q Is there anything else you would like to share in your spotlight?

A While I am thankful for the chance to highlight myself, Alba, and our recent publication, I am also excited to wrap up some other work to share with the MPMI community in the coming month or so. Be on the lookout if you are interested!

Q Bonus question: What's your favorite pathogen or disease?

A Any actinobacterial pathogen of course. J

Q&A with Alba Moreno Pérez

Q What research project are you most excited about right now?

A During my collaboration with Dani on this project, we made an exciting discovery: some elf18 variants can induce early, but not late, plant immune responses. These MAMPs, known as deviants, have opened up intriguing questions. I am particularly fascinated by how these natural deviants manage to reduce the PTI responses. Recently, I've started a new project with the goal of uncovering how these deviant peptides activate the receptor and why they fail to trigger later plant immune responses. I'm really thrilled about this opportunity to identify the mechanisms by which deviants evade plant immunity and to explore their potential role in avoiding pathogen recognition.

Q What drew you to the Coaker lab?

A In 2018, during my Ph.D. research, I did a four-month short stay in Dr. Gitta Coaker's laboratory in order to learn the GFP strand system. In my thesis, I investigated how pathogens inhibit plant defense systems and promote disease. My time in the Coaker lab sparked a deep curiosity about understanding the defense mechanisms plants use to prevent pathogen infections. Given the Coaker lab's extensive experience in biochemical, posttranslational, and genetic investigations of immunological signaling, I chose to pursue a postdoctoral position there. I believe this will allow me to learn new methodologies that complement my training, providing a comprehensive understanding of both sides of plant-pathogen interactions. Additionally, during my four-month stay, I observed Dr. Coaker's dedication as a mentor who fosters intellectual growth, critical thinking, and creativity. This positive experience motivated me to work with her on applications for various postdoctoral fellowships, ultimately securing two opportunities that enabled me to join the Coaker lab.

Q How did you choose to join the graduate program at the University of Malaga?

A During the third year of my bachelor's degree studies in biology, I began working on a project as an undergraduate student in the lab of Dr. Cayo Ramos at the Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics, and Physiology at the University of Malaga, Spain. This project awakened my curiosity for studying plant-pathogen interactions. After completing my master's degree, I joined the doctoral program in advanced biotechnology to pursue my Ph.D. degree under the supervision of Dr. Ramos. His research focuses on studying the role of virulence factors in the host range of Pseudomonas savastanoi, a bacterium that causes knots in woody hosts. I was particularly interested in investigating the mechanisms that bacteria use to overcome plant immunity and cause disease.

Q What advice would you give to graduate students who are just starting out?

A My advice is, if you decide to pursue a Ph.D. degree, choose a project that you are truly passionate about. Science can be challenging, and your passion and curiosity will help make the journey easier. When you find a paper or project that excites you, don't hesitate to contact the principal investigator. Send your CV and express your interest in the project. Don't be afraid of rejection; if you don't try, the answer is always no.

Q Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?

A At the beginning of my career, I was inspired by Rosalind Franklin and Marie Curie, women who broke barriers and fought hard for their scientific careers in times when women were not often allowed to do so. Throughout my career, I have met many remarkable and strong women who serve as excellent examples of how it is possible to have a successful career in science without sacrificing family life. Everything is possible if you have passion and dedication.

Q Are you involved in other scientific/professional development activities? How do these contribute to your training?

A I am involved in mentoring undergraduate students in the lab. Mentoring is a crucial part of our development, especially if you aspire to be an academic professor. Every student is different, so learning how to help them and bring out their best is very important. I also participate in the review of articles and serve on evaluation committees for the Postdoctoral Scholar Association. These experiences have contributed to my scientific career by enhancing my critical thinking skills, broadening my understanding of current research trends, and providing valuable insights into the peer-review process. Additionally, during my Ph.D. program, I participated in outreach activities with the goal of bringing the real image of scientists closer to the public and showing that they are people just like them. I believe outreach is very important because it provides the opportunity to connect current science with future generations.

Q What is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career? What did you do to overcome this challenge?

A One of my biggest challenges has been overcoming the language barrier. I am from Spain, and English has been particularly challenging for me, but I have worked hard to improve my speaking and oral presentation skills. One piece of advice: don't hesitate to speak if your English is not perfect. It's more important to express yourself and seize the opportunity to interact and connect with people.

Q How can people find you on social media?

A You can find me on X: @Alba_MorenoP.

Q What's your favorite story from an IS-MPMI society meeting?

A The IS-MPMI meetings are among my favorite conferences. They provide the perfect opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues, meet new people, and stay up-to-date with the latest discoveries in plant-pathogen interactions. A very fun moment from the IS-MPMI meeting held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2019 was during the diversity party when everyone ended up dancing to the Spanish song "La Macarena."

Q Is there anything else you would like to share in your spotlight?

A I would like to thank Dani and Gitta for giving me the opportunity to be part of this amazing project and MPMI for highlighting our work.

Q Bonus question: What's your favorite pathogen or disease?

A Pseudomonas syringae has always been my favorite pathogen due to its diverse virulence factors and its value in studying plant-pathogen interactions. However, since working with Ralstonia, the causative agent of bacterial wilt disease, I've come to appreciate it equally. Ralstonia's sophisticated strategies for invading and colonizing plant tissues make it an excellent model for studying plant-pathogen interactions at both single-cell and spatial resolution levels.

Q Bonus question: What's your favorite molecular plant pathology-related article?

A One of my favorite plant pathology-related articles associated with MAMP perception is the article titled "Co-incidence of Damage and Microbial Patterns Controls Localized Immune Responses in Roots," published in the journal Cell by the group of Niko Geldner. In this study, they analyzed MAMP receptor expression and responses at cellular resolution in Arabidopsis roots. They demonstrated that only a restricted subset of Arabidopsis root zones directly responds to the flagellin MAMP in the absence of damage.

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