Best Student Paper​

Phytophthora i​​nfestans RxLR Effector PITG06478 Hijacks 14-3-3 to Suppress PMA Activity Leading to Necrotrophic Cell Death

Pathogens often induce cell death to successfully proliferate in the host plant. Plasma membrane H⁺-ATPases (PMAs) are targeted by eithe​r pathogens or plant immune receptors in immune response regulation. Although PMAs play pivotal roles in host cell death, the molecular mechanism of effector-mediated regulation of PMA activity has not been described. In this year’s MPMI Best Student Paper Award-winning article, Ye-Eun Seo et al. report that the Phytophthora infestans RxLR effector PITG06478 can induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, but the induced cell death is inhibited by fusicoccin (FC), an irreversible PMA activator.

Honorable Mentions

Grapevine Fanleaf Virus RNA1-Encoded Proteins 1A and 1B^Hel Suppress RNA Silencing

Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) (genus Nepovirus, family Secoviridae) causes fanleaf degeneration, one of the most damaging viral diseases of grapevines. Despite the substantial advances made in deciphering GFLV-host interactions, how this virus overcomes the host antiviral pathways of RNA silencing is still poorly understood. In this study, Jiyeong Choi et al. identified viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) encoded by GFLV, using fluorescence assays, and tested their capacity to modify host gene expression in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (EGFP).

A Coculture of Enterobacter and Comamonas Species Reduces Cadmium Accumulation in Rice

The accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in plants is strongly impacted by soil microbes, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, Xing Wang et al. report the mechanism of reduced Cd accumulation in rice by coculture of Enterobacter and Comamonas species. In pot experiments, inoculation with the coculture decreased Cd content in rice grain, immobilized Cd in soils, and enhanced soil nutrients and enzyme activities. The coculture also colonized the rice rhizosphere, activated defense responses, and regulated Cd uptake and efflux in rice, suggesting it protects rice against Cd stress.

Maize Root Exudates Promote Bacillus sp. Za Detoxification of Diphenyl Ether Herbicides by Enhancing Colonization and Biofilm Formation

Diphenyl ether herbicides are extensively utilized in agricultural systems, but their residues threaten the health of sensitive rotation crops. Functional microbial strains can degrade diphenyl ether herbicides in the rhizosphere of crops, facilitating the restoration of a healthy agricultural environment. However, the interplay between microorganisms and plants in degradation of diphenyl ether herbicides remains unclear. To explore this, Yanning Tian et al. employed the herbicide-degrading strain Bacillus sp. Za and a sensitive crop (maize)—finding that root exudates enhance Bacillus sp. Za’s degradation of diphenyl ether herbicides through a positive feedback loop with maize. The bacterium increases root exudate secretion, leading to improved rhizosphere colonization, biofilm formation, and herbicide degradation.

Read the commentary by Assistant Feature Editor Siva Sankari.

Plan to attend the 2025 IS-MPMI Congress Sunday through Thursday, July 13–17, in Cologne, Germany. More information is available online. IS-MPMI members will receive discounted registration rates for the conference. Scientists from some countries are eligible for discounted membership in IS-MPMI.

Here in Ithaca, NY, the days are getting shorter and cooler as summer comes to a close, but with the start of our new academic year, it is a time of excitement and promise. For our Society too there is a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

Not least, the 20th IS-MPMI Congress next July, in the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany, a science hub rich in history and culture. The program will feature a variety of speakers from around the world to showcase the most exciting findings in plant-microbe interactions, with ample time for human interactions. Plan now on “Making Global Connections in Plant-Microbe Interactions” in Cologne 2025!

I also am happy to report that the IS-MPMI Board of Directors, beyond its historical role of selecting a locale and assisting the organizers for the biannual congress, has been building on transformative initiatives developed during the pandemic—in professional development for our early-career members and in community building that promotes geographic and social diversity. We have been working on new initiatives too, in open science and public outreach, that we hope will help members better share their research and its importance.

You can look forward to several things already in the works, including more frequent episodes of the Microgreens podcast, a new slate of What’s New in MPMI Virtual Seminars, a reprisal of the 2022 Online Early Career Showcase, first author interviews and other engaging new content in the Interactions newsletter, and, as offered for the 19th IS-MPMI Congress, a permanent switch to open access to all congress posters and talks by authors and speakers who sign on.

More is being planned, and the board will need your help. Keep an eye out for calls to get involved, and send me or any other board member your thoughts and ideas on how together we can best advance the IS-MPMI mission of supporting member achievement, as well as realize our vision to “embody a diverse, engaged, international community of scientists, educators, and other stakeholders to create and share foundational knowledge in plant-microbe interactions toward greater understanding, appreciation, and sustainable use of plants and the environments in which they grow.”

Whether the days are getting shorter or longer where you are, and wherever you may be in your calendar, my sincere best wishes for the year ahead. On behalf of all the board members, we look forward to your successes and to working together to strengthen our community and the positive impact of our discipline.

With best regards,

Adam Bogdanove
IS-MPMI​ President ​

 Meenu Singla-Rastogi, Innes Lab, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

Meet graduate student Suchismita “Suchi” Ghosh from the Innes lab at Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA. Suchi’s very first first-author paper on the secretion of plant extracellular vesicles in response to compatible and incompatible fungal infections on alfalfa species was recently published in MPMI. In this Interactions spotlight, she provides insights into her deep-rooted passion for studying plant pathogens and how she navigated through the lows and highs during her graduate studies. Now that she has graduated, we congratulate her and wish her the best in her future endeavors.
1. What do you think is the most important or exciting finding from your paper?
Our paper is the first study that demonstrates a plant-fungal interaction interface in the three-dimensional space. Perhaps the most fascinating discovery is the presence of paramural bodies (PMBs) that are observed with a nonhost fungal pathogen infection in the plant cell and the corresponding increase in extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from nonhost infected plants. We could see the shape, and size, and evaluate the number of PMBs throughout the volume of the plant cell and reconstruct the images as 3D models. The images developed in this study provide us with a map to explore the insides of a plant cell during infection with its fungal pathogen, and thus, it is a first-of-its-kind study.

2. Was there a piece of data that was particularly challenging to obtain or a part of the project that was particularly difficult?

The most challenging data to obtain was a high enough resolution to visualize the contents inside the PMBs. These PMBs are extremely small, roughly 1 µm or less in diameter, and the vesicles inside them are even smaller. Using volume scope SEM was challenging in itself, but visualizing the vesicles inside PMBs seemed impossible. We then used focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) for that purpose, and what seemed particularly challenging was to optimize the preparation of sample blocks and image them using FIB-SEM.

3. What research project are you most excited about right now?

Currently, I am working on characterizing different populations of plant EVs. Our paper revealed that plant cells secreted more vesicles when infected with their host and nonhost fungal pathogens. This raises the question of whether plants secrete a special class of defense-related vesicles in response to pathogen attack? In my current project, I intend to answer this question and identify distinct vesicle protein markers that mark different vesicle populations. This research will allow us to identify new mechanisms deployed by plants to fight their pathogens and open novel and exciting research areas in the field of plant-pathogen interaction.

4. What drew you to your current lab?

I have always been fascinated by plant-pathogen interactions. My family members in India were farmers for several generations, and we mostly grow our own vegetables in our garden and land. As a child, I was fascinated with plant diseases and made observations on our farmland, like black or red spots on leaves, vegetables, and fruits. When I got my undergraduate degree in biotechnology, I researched more about plant immunity and how disease management of crop plants helps millions of people across the world. This made me want to join Dr. Roger Innes‘ lab at Indiana University Bloomington, as he is one of the leading plant immunity researchers. Roger had a website that shared a story about his passion for studying plant diseases to better manage them. I realized we have similar passions, and I decided to try my luck and travel halfway across the world to pursue my graduate studies.

5. (For graduate students) How did you choose to join your current graduate program?

The most important criteria for me were the work of the professor and the diversity within the university. Grad school is a marathon that is impossible without a community. I knew Indiana University has great plant scientists and an amazing Indian and international student community. I also emailed the professors I was interested in working with before applying to grad school, and how they responded (if they did) factored into my choice for grad school. I strongly believe that finding the right fit is one of the most important determinants of success in grad school.

6. What advice would you give to starting graduate students?

Always talk to your advisor and lay out your expectations before starting grad school. Do not be scared to ask questions. I asked my professor about his mentoring philosophy and how he dealt with low morale in grad students. It is important to also build a community outside grad school. I had hiking and fishing buddies in grad school, and they were an integral part of my life during those years.

7. Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?

As a child, I was profoundly influenced by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. He is a Bengali, just like me, and an exceptional botanist and physicist. I was always interested in mathematics and plants, the two fields with minimum overlap. I graduated from the same undergraduate college in India as Dr. Bose and went on to his institute to do my master’s research in plant immunity. I knew I wanted to study plants, and reading about his journey inspired me to follow my passion.

8. Have you been involved in other scientific/professional development activities? And, how have these contributed to your training?

I have been part of ASPB and IS-MPMI from the very beginning of grad school. It has helped me broaden my scientific network and attend conferences. I have gained tremendous insights on new technologies and works and formed collaborations from attending these conferences. I have also been able to make some industry connections by applying for industry-based conference travel awards. It was a great opportunity to explore outside of academia.

Besides academia, I love doing outreach with young kids. I taught an after-school math club for elementary students grades 3 to 6. I also volunteered for Science Olympiad training for middle school kids. These activities helped me keep my mind off grad school stress and give back to the community.

In grad school, I was part of the international student committee and my department’s student committee. These programs have helped me form communities and friendships and develop leadership skills.

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

I had the misfortune of being a grad student in my early years when the global COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was a really hard time for me mentally. I was an international student, living alone, and socially distanced, with no family support here in the United States. I also lost a few family members back home due to COVID-19. All these conditions led to a lot of mental health problems, like depression and anxiety. It was hampering my productivity in the lab and my social life. Luckily, I had a lot of support from my PI, Dr. Roger Innes, and my lab members. I also underwent therapy and slowly worked through my issues. I took it one day at a time in the lab and found my ground back again.

10. How can people find you on social media?

X: @Suchi_EV_Plants

LinkedIn: @Suchismita Ghosh

11. Is there anything else you would like to share? If so, what is it?

Check out another paper from the Innes lab, “Three-Dimensional Ultrastructure of Arabidopsis Cotyledons Infected with Colletotrichum higginsianum,” by former postdoc Dr. Kamesh Regmi. I am honored to be a part of this paper. This paper has some beautiful SEM images that delineate the cytological changes in Arabidopsis cotyledon upon fungal infection and represent them three-dimensionally.​

​Abigail Rogers, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
In this new section of Interactions, we explore what it’s like to work in different areas of plant microbe interactions. We will highlight scientists doing research in government, academia, and industry, as well as those who work in communication and policymaking. In this issue, Abigail Rogers, a Ph.D. student at Purdue University, talks with Dr. Matthew Helm, a molecular plant pathologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Abigail (Abbie) Rogers is a Ph.D. student at Purdue University, working on effector proteins in bacterial and fungal pathogens. She is coadvised by Dr. Matthew Helm and Dr. Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi in the Botany and Plant Pathology Department.

Dr. Matthew Helm is a research scientist in the crop protection unit of the USDA-ARS and an adjunct assistant professor in agronomy at Purdue University.

Abbie: For this IS-MPMI Interactions article, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Matthew Helm, my coadvisor for my Ph.D. thesis work. We were given a list of questions to answer, but I have written this piece to include some of the additional questions I asked Dr. Helm to provide some more colorful commentary. I attempted to accurately represent Dr. Helm’s answers and provide some context to enlighten the reader as to the kind of person Dr. Helm is. My hope is that his good-natured character and dedication to being a great mentor comes through in this interview. I hope you enjoy this interview, with some side comments from me!

A: Hey Matt, are you ready to be interviewed?

M: Absolutely!

A: Could you please tell me about the research project you’re most excited about right now?

M: I would say…oh, that’s a tough one. I would say the tar spot effector work that you and Namrata (Dr. Namrata Jaiswal, postdoctoral research associate in the Helm lab) have done. One, I really like it for the novelty of the results, since it’s a new and emerging pathogen, but two is that it’s my first project that I have given to a PhD student and that you have led.

A: You’re not just saying that because I’m the one interviewing you?

M: Well, there’s the Fusarium project, but I started that one as a postdoctoral scientist. The effector project is the first project where you and I are working side by side, and it’s provided a lot of good mentorship opportunities.

A: Okay, that’s a great answer! Next question, what drew you to your current job in government?

M: The supportive research environment that the Crop Protection and Pest Control Research Unit has in fostering early-career scientists and the freedom to investigate biologically meaningful questions that are directly related to U.S. agriculture. I really liked that the USDA-ARS does high-quality research with stakeholders always in mind. But mostly, doing science with a meaning behind it is what drew me to the USDA-ARS.

Just a quick side note here from me (Abbie), since I have known Dr. Helm he has always been a vocal advocate for supporting early-career researchers. I personally feel that Dr. Helm makes a significant effort to recognize the excellent work being presented by researchers who may have not yet established themselves in our highly competitive field of molecular plant pathology and molecular plant-microbe interactions. Since I began working with Dr. Helm, I have noticed that he has always excelled at recognizing the accomplishments of his peers and mentees.

A: What made you want to be a molecular plant pathologist?

M: That’s a good question. During my time as an undergraduate student, I took two plant courses that I really enjoyed: plant physiology and ethnobotany. So, after completing those two specific courses and my time as an undergraduate, I knew I wanted to perform research within the plant sciences. However, I also had taken human immunology and rather enjoyed studying the evolutionary arms race between humans and pathogens, but I knew that I didn’t want to study human pathogens. That’s when I found a lab at Indiana University that studied plant immunity at molecular, cellular, and genetic levels.

At this point in the interview, Dr. Helm walked his laptop into the kitchen and began to cook dinner for himself and his wife Ariel, who is soon graduating from her medical residency program in Greenville, SC. Talk about a power couple! During this time, Dr. Helm provided a little insight into his life by sharing that he really enjoys cooking and is generally the chef in his household.

A: What advice would you give to an incoming/beginning graduate student?

M: One piece of advice? I would say that, although your main focus as a Ph.D. student is working on exciting research projects, you also should seriously consider the lab environment. You want to consider how the PI interacts with postdocs, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, and what the lab dynamics are like. As a new graduate student, you may be working on several research projects at one time—some of which may succeed and others may not work out. Personalities and lab dynamics, however, change at a much slower pace than your projects, and you will likely be working with the same people for the next five to seven years. So, the lab environment, culture, and dynamics are just as important as the exciting research. I also should mention that incoming/beginning graduate students should consider joining a lab that emphasizes the importance of work-life harmony and mental health. It’s so easy for the PI to prioritize research outputs (i.e., manuscripts, research talks, posters, successful grants, etc.) over the care and well-being of their team members. Doing so often results in a toxic, unsupportive work environment. Before joining a lab, make sure to ask the PI how they support work-life harmony among their team members.

A: What advice would you give to people starting up a laboratory and/or starting out on the job market?

M: Well, I’m only three years in to running my own lab, so maybe I’m not the most qualified person to comment on starting up a laboratory. What I can say is that starting a lab can be challenging, and there is an extremely large learning curve, but it’s also so rewarding to bring in individuals to your team and interact with them and learn from them and watch them succeed. It’s interesting to learn how to manage everyone on the team’s preferences and how they like to learn, and it’s exciting to celebrate their successes and watch them make progress. I would say that any challenges of starting a lab are offset by your team’s successes. For starting out on the job market, my advice is don’t ever take rejection personally. A lot of hiring decisions are made by committee members who may have a specific candidate already in mind, and if you don’t meet that precise mold, you may be unlikely to be one of the top candidates. Never take rejection personally.

I would like to jump in here and note that not only does Dr. Helm give good career advice, but he frequently provides excellent life advice. Not only can I talk to Dr. Helm about my research, but we also discuss having a long-distance partner in residency, a life experience that we share. It is nice to have a mentor who can relate to you and is willing to provide advice on a shared experience!

A: Who has inspired you scientifically and why?

M: I’d say that the scientist who had the greatest impact on me would be Roger Innes. The reason being, I grew the most and matured the most as a scientist under his tutelage. When I joined Roger’s lab I had very limited lab-based research experience, but when I joined his lab, I quickly learned how to become a careful and disciplined scientist, and I learned how to think like a scientist. He has continued to mentor me, and his lab is where I grew to be the scientist I am today.

A: Are you involved in other scientific/professional development activities? And, how do these contribute to your training?

M: I really enjoy reading and evaluating preprints on BioRxiv—that’s a fun activity to do! It’s rewarding to be able to give feedback to the authors and the plant pathology community. And, it’s fun to read about all of the breaking and emerging discoveries before they are peer-reviewed in a journal. I also have read several books and attended seminars on how to be a more effective and supportive team leader. Once I stepped into my current role, I soon learned that I had no formal training on how to manage and lead members in my research group. I attended seminars and read several books about how to manage a research team effectively and efficiently using evidence-based approaches.

A: That’s cool! Oh, this is a good one, what is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career, and what did you do to overcome this challenge?

M: The greatest challenge I’ve encountered has been learning to be comfortable saying “no.” It’s a very simple task but rather important, especially as an early-career researcher. Your time is limited as it is, and its challenging to say no to collaborations and research projects, but you’ll need to do that in order to save your time. You need to recognize that in saying “yes” to all things, you are sacrificing important time from the core group you work with.

A: I like that answer. How could people find you on social media?

M: The only social media I have is a twitter account. My handle is @mattdhelm19.

A: Oh wait, do you mean you have an X account?

M: Oh yeah, sorry, X.

A: What is your favorite story from an IS-MPMI meeting?

M: There was a time when I was at the Glasgow meeting, in 2019, a bunch of early-career scientists and I all went out to a Vietnamese restaurant. We were all commiserating about the challenges that come along with being an early-career researcher. We also talked about where we eventually wanted be in our careers (i.e., academia, industry, government, nonprofit, etc.). Looking back at that moment, we’ve all ended up where we’ve wanted to be. It’s one of those memories where we all had great food, and we weren’t sure where we’d be at the next IS-MPMI meeting, then when we all checked in at Providence (IS-MPMI 2023) we were all where we wanted to be!

With that, we concluded our interview. I imagine Dr. Helm went off to continue to cook dinner; meanwhile, I went to write up this interview and reflect on our conversation.​

Priyamedha Sengupta, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre of Research on Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), Spain, and Junior Member IS-MPMI Board of Directors

Welcome to our new miniseries on science outreach and communication! Over the next three issues, Dr. Priyamedha Sengupta, postdoctoral researcher, will tell us about her journey into plant-microbe outreach and communication. Why is communicating our science so important? Because, as Priya says, “Given the rampant misinformation about sustainable crop improvement strategies, it is critical that scientists step forward and communicate the importance of their work to the general population.”​

I am Priyamedha Sengupta, postdoctoral researcher at the Centre of Research on Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), Spain, and junior member of the IS-MPMI Board of Directors. Coincidentally, I have been affiliated with institutions having the letter C in their names (University of Calcutta, India, M.S. degree in botany 2017; University of Cologne, Germany, Ph.D. degree in natural sciences 2023). My research primarily involves good and bad (but never ugly) microbes of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Breaking the First Wall

Having finished updating my lab journal on a Friday afternoon, I threw a quick glance at my inbox to find the university newsletter. Among the usual features on University of Cologne services and EU research funding opportunities, there was mention of an event called Falling Walls Lab. What captured my attention was that every participant was required to make a 3-min pitch (more popularly known as an elevator pitch). My instant thought was ‘Oh fun! I am going to check it out.’ So, I visited the portal and applied to participate in the Falling Walls Lab Rhineland 2019. After applying (yes, and not before), I went to find out more about the Falling Walls foundation. To my utter surprise, I saw a picture of former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel seated in the front row of the previous year’s Falling Walls Conference in Berlin. I came to know that the Falling Walls Conference is a renowned multidisciplinary gathering of individuals from science, industry, economics, politics, and nearly every topic of societal importance (https://falling-walls.com). Naturally, I berated myself for having wasted an hour in applying for such a high-profile event in which a first-year Ph.D. student stood little chance of qualifying. Setting up a PCR reaction might have been more beneficial, I thought to myself.

A few weeks later, I received an email from the organizing committee of Falling Walls Lab Rhineland that my application to present in the regional round was selected. They provided a guideline for preparing our pitch, which would consist of two PowerPoint slides—one highlighting the problem and another providing the solution. For the problem, I focused on how plant diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms can lead to severe consequences, such as the Irish famine (1845–1852). For the solution, I prepared a comic with Tom and Jerry (and Spike, the bulldog) to explain microbial antagonism of pathogens—the topic of my Ph.D. project on yeast antagonizing oomycete in the Arabidopsis thaliana leaf surface. My supervisor, Prof. Gunther Doehlemann, provided some great feedback to ensure I stayed within the 2-min, 30-s time frame (the remaining 30 s was reserved for questions). The event took place on September 12, 2019, on the main campus of the University of Cologne, a mere 5-min walk from my institution. However, it was one of the more anxious and intimidating 5-min stroll of my life. Once I arrived, I felt a bit relaxed, having chatted with fellow participants and organizers. Big screens showcasing our presentations were set up at the Aula (auditorium) and a rather visible timer counting down from 3 min. It was surprising how quickly a total of 17 presentations went by. I made my pitch within 2 min, which allowed me to interact with the jury for another minute. Afterward, we all met for a short coffee break and gathered back in the auditorium for the announcement of the results. I am always going to cherish the moment when the organizer, Oliver Höing said, “I hope I pronounce the name of the winner correctly,” which led me to wonder, “Could it be me with the complicated (even by Indian standards) name?”

I am ever so grateful to Falling Walls Lab Rhineland for the honor and for acknowledging the importance of plant-microbe interactions. The next step for me was the Falling Walls Conference in Berlin, which is held every year during the first weeks of November, coinciding with the dates of the actual fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Berlin, where the first two days included training activities for Falling Walls participants from all over the world, including visits to prominent universities and research institutions in Berlin. Incidentally, it was the 30th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall. Finally, I presented my pitch, “Breaking the Wall of Microbial Invasion in Plant Protection,” on November 8, 2019, representing both India and Germany on a global stage. To this day it feels surreal, as to how a spontaneous decision on a summer afternoon gave me one of the biggest exposures in life. In case I have piqued your interest, the pitch is available on the Falling Walls Lab YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/At83ecjEf3U?si=cMMe6TMzXcIze3ts).

I need to mention David Spencer here, who qualified with me, from Lab Rhineland to present in Berlin on the importance of genetically modified crops (https://youtu.be/UQP2O2mZnk4?si=e1pOutwQB8UUDnGi). The final statement of David’s pitch, “Give Genes a Chance,” is in fact an initiative launched together with Svenja Augustin that has grown into a thriving community of over 370 early-career researchers, as well as advanced scientists (https://givegenesachance.eu).

In essence, preparing for the Falling Walls Lab made me remember the larger purpose of plant science research in achieving food security, amid all the inoculation assays under laminar flow hoods and protein extractions from bacterial cells. Breaking the first wall of outreach opened a whole new world for me.

Join Priyamedha again in the December 2024 issue of Interactions, when we’ll learn about the new outreach and communication experiences that Falling Walls opened for Priyamedha.

Do you have a plant-microbe related outreach or communication story to share? Contact Interactions EIC Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi.​

In 2020, MPMI spearheaded an effort to add assistant feature editors (AFEs) to the MPMI Editorial Board. AFEs have two-year appointments to explore new ways to present and amplify journal articles. After reviewing submissions from this year’s applicants, four new AFEs have joined the MPMI Board. AFEs will also contribute to Interactions content. Meet them here.

Ved Prakash​

Position

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I come from Varanasi, India. I have completed my B.S. degree in science from Udai Pratap Autonomous College and M.S. degree in applied microbiology from Banaras Hindu University. I studied host-virus interactions during my doctoral research at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, under the supervision of Prof. Supriya Chakraborty. As a senior research fellow, I worked with Dr. Ramesh Sonti at NIPGR, New Delhi, generating a CRISPR/CAS9-edited rice variety for improved resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae. In 2021, I moved to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA, as a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Dr. Clare Casteel, where I studied how viruses can help plants survive under drought stress.

At present, I am working as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Shahideh Nouri at Kansas State University. Here, I am trying to find new source(s) of resistance/tolerance against wheat streak mosaic virus and Triticum mosaic virus by utilizing wild wheat relatives, ultimately aiming to improve bread wheat.

Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I am very excited about my role as an AFE for the MPMI journal. Studying the mechanisms by which pathogens can cause disease in certain hosts and how some hosts show resistance to the disease fascinates me. This is why I applied for the AFE position, as working with the journal will enhance my understanding of the field. My expertise in reviewing scientific articles and my background in plant virology research have equipped me with a strong foundation in scientific knowledge and communication abilities. The chance to contribute to the journal, which publishes cutting-edge studies in the area of plant-pathogen interactions, excites me, and I’m looking forward to helping to expand the audience for the articles the journal publishes. Furthermore, this position presents a special opportunity for me to develop professionally and stay at the cutting edge of plant-pathogen interaction research.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

As an AFE, I would like to enhance the reach of the published articles to the audience. I can do this by writing commentaries about the published articles, interviewing the main/lead authors, and contributing to the press release for the journal. I am also looking forward to working with the editorial team to foster a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages the best scientific communication. I also will use this opportunity to make new connections and collaborations for scientific work. Additionally, I am excited about the opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in plant-pathogen interactions and to broaden my knowledge in various subfields.​

 Jawahar Singh

Position

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

My name is Jawahar Singh, and I am currently a postdoctoral research associate at the Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge (SLCU), under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Schornack. My academic journey began with perusing an M.S. degree in biochemistry at West Bengal State University, Kolkata, India. I then explored the proteomic responses of pearl millet to salinity stress during my tenure as a research Fellow at Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

I completed my Ph.D. degree at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, India, where my research focused on elucidating the molecular components and associated signaling involved in chickpea-rhizobia symbiosis. My expertise in symbiotic interactions was honed further during my postdoctoral fellowship at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), where I investigated the nodulation process in common bean under phosphorus deficiency.

Currently, my research at the SLCU focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of nitrogen acquisition in legumes, with an emphasis on improving nitrogen fixation and field performance in crops like cowpea and soybean through molecular, genetic, and cell-biology approaches.

Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I applied to be an assistant editor for MPMI because I am passionate about science communication and want to contribute to the dissemination of cutting-edge research in this field. Being an assistant editor provides a unique opportunity to stay abreast of the latest developments, engage with innovative research, and support the scientific community by ensuring high-quality publications. I firmly believe in the transformative power of science to improve lives, and I am thrilled at the prospect of contributing to MPMI‘s mission. My background as a researcher in plant-microbe interactions, coupled with my expertise in effectively communicating scientific concepts to diverse audiences, uniquely positions me to support the journal’s objectives.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

During my tenure as an assistant editor, I want to highlight and simplify the significant work done by first authors and early-career scientists. This role will also be a fantastic opportunity to broaden my knowledge on plant-microbe interactions beyond my personal research focus. I am excited about gaining insights into the editorial process and enhancing my editorial skills, which will be invaluable for my future career in academia and research.

Becoming an AFE with MPMI will not only strengthen my scientific network, but also accelerate my career progression. Ultimately, I aspire to become an independent researcher and lead a research group dedicated to exploring plant symbiotic interactions for sustainable agriculture. MPMI‘s esteemed reputation and commitment to impactful science communication make it an ideal platform for achieving these aspirations.​

Meenu Singla-Rastogi

Position

Postdoctoral Researcher, Innes Lab, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I am Meenu Singla-Rastogi, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Roger W. Innes in the Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington. My current research focus is to investigate the role of biomolecules, including RNA and proteins, present in the plant apoplast and on the leaf surface, and whether their secretion in these extracellular compartments has biological significance in the context of plant-microbe interactions. My latest scientific obsession is to learn whether host-induced gene silencing is mediated by the silencing RNAs that we have recently discovered to be present on leaf surfaces and whether the phytopathogens can take up these RNAs much before penetrating the plant cell wall. Prior to this, I completed my Ph.D. degree in plant immunity under the supervision of Dr. Lionel Navarro at IBENS, Paris, in 2019. I elucidated the role of plant-encoded artificial small RNAs in targeting virulence genes of phytopathogenic bacteria, which lack a conventional eukaryotic-like RNAi machinery. Overall, this work unveiled a novel phenomenon of trans-kingdom regulation between a eukaryotic host and a prokaryotic pathogen, which was previously unknown. I have always been intrigued by the arms race between plants and their interactions with pathogens and wonder what role the secreted RNAs might play in this warfare.

Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I delved into the world of scientific editing and gained editorial experience when I served as a freelance specialist editor for Cactus Communications during the global pandemic. When I learned about the AFE position, I applied for it without a second thought, as I wanted to gain an insider view of the meticulous editorial process that is essential in maintaining the high standards of a reputable journal like Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI). I am drawn to the MPMI journal for its dedication to promoting fundamental, as well as cutting-edge, plant-microbe interaction research and facilitating cross-disciplinary dialogue in innovative ways. IS-MPMI was the first international scientific community I engaged with when I attended the IS-MPMI Congress in 2019. I then organized a plenary session titled “Who Wants to Be an (MPMI)llionaire?” at the 19th IS-MPMI Congress of held in Providence, RI, USA. My goal was to engage the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc attendees with the diverse topics of plenary talks in a fun and novel way, even if the topics may not be of particular interest to them. This scientific society has provided me with immense opportunities and supported me to grow as an early-career researcher. The primary reason behind my applying for this position was to engage with the IS-MPMI community more intrinsically.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

This is a unique opportunity, and I am happy to become an integral part of a dynamic editorial team. I am sure that this opportunity will enable me to make meaningful contributions toward advancing the field of plant-microbe interactions while further developing my skills as an effective science communicator and editor. As an AFE, I am most excited about articulating nontechnical, but well-researched and -structured, content to feature or highlight the work published in the MPMI journal. This will not only allow me to communicate and network with peers at similar career stages, but also help me expand my knowledge on topics that are beyond my research interests. Given an opportunity, I wish to explore new ways of scientific storytelling to capture the interest of a broad readership, as I am deeply passionate about science communication and enjoy organizing fun and engaging activities to promote plant science. I also look forward to working closely with the editorial team and gaining insights into the editing, reviewing, and decision-making processes.​

Ruby Tiwari​

Position

Postdoctoral Associate, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, MO, USA

Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I am Ruby Tiwari, currently a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Dilip Shah‘s lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Originally from Delhi, India, I completed my Ph.D. degree in genetics at the University of Delhi, South Campus, under the guidance of Prof. Manchikatla Venkat Rajam. My doctoral research focused on RNAi-mediated silencing of abiotic stress-related genes to engineer heat and drought tolerance in soybean.

In my current role at the Danforth Center, my research focus is on exploring the potential of antimicrobial peptides to raise crop productivity. I am investigating the mode of action of plant defensins and defensin-like peptides to combat fungal diseases. My work aims to advance our understanding of these peptides and their applications in enhancing crop resilience and agricultural productivity.

Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I am inspired by the innovative ways MPMI promotes research and supports researchers, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to these efforts. My experience during my Ph.D. studies highlighted the challenges of communicating scientific research to nonspecialists, such as explaining my work to my parents. This experience underscored the importance of effective science communication and inspired me to seek ways to simplify and clarify research for a broader audience.

This role offers a unique opportunity to develop and apply creative communication strategies, turning complex research into digestible content. I am eager to engage with cutting-edge research, refine my skills in science communication, and contribute to making significant scientific knowledge more accessible and impactful worldwide. Moreover, I am passionate about celebrating the achievements and diversity within the scientific community and am committed to promoting open, inclusive, and equitable access to knowledge.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

I aim to explore and implement innovative ways to communicate complex research findings to a broader audience. By translating intricate scientific concepts into accessible and engaging content, I hope to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of plant-microbe interactions. I want to refine my scientific communication abilities, enhance my creative thinking, and strengthen my interpersonal skills. These competencies are crucial for effectively conveying research insights and fostering meaningful connections within the scientific community.

I look forward to engaging with scientists from diverse backgrounds, discussing their research, and integrating their perspectives into the journal. Building relationships within the plant-microbe community and contributing to collaborative efforts are important aspects of my role. I am excited to be part of a dynamic team that promotes and disseminates groundbreaking research. Overall, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of connecting with researchers and contributing to the multidisciplinary field of plant-microbe interactions.

Sharing your work in MPMI, the IS-MPMI society journal, builds and strengthens our international community. Because MPMI is a gold open access journal, publishing in it means your work can​ be read by anyone with an Internet connection, anywhere, for free. Publishing in MPMI also contributes to the IS-MPMI mission of investing in early-career scientists and members of groups historically underrepresented in science. MPMI articles can be found by anyone using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, or Google Scholar. On average, authors submitting to MPMI receive a decision less than one month from the date of submission. What’s New in MPMI Virtual Seminars offer authors of trending papers the opportunity to engage live with readers, and the IS-MPMI quarterly newsletter, Interactions, regularly publishes MPMI first-author interviews to provide visibility to early-career scientists from diverse backgrounds. The list of benefits goes on! Back in the day, we used to flip open our favorite journals and scan the table of contents for papers that interested us. Now, we use content alerts and social media to find what’s new and exciting. I still scan the MPMI table of contents of every issue, however, and there is always something in which I’m interested. I hope you find your next paper in an MPMI table of contents soon!

Adam Bogdanove
IS-MPMI President

Join host Jeanne Harris for the free upcoming virtual seminar on October 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. CT, as she discusses the H. H. Flor Distinguished Review “Unlock​ing Nature’s Defense: Plant Pattern Recognition Receptors as Guardians Against Pathogenic Threats” with author Yingpeng Xie. This H. H. Flor Distinguished Review by Chao Zhang et al. showcases seminal studies in discovering RKs and RPs as R proteins and discusses the recent advances in understanding their functions in sensing pathogen signals and plant cell integrity and in preventing autoimmunity, ultimately contributing to a robust and balanced plant defense response. Learn more about What’s New in MPMI and watch previous virtual seminars.​