IBL Spotlight - Michael Richardson and Himanshu Chhilllar
- Date
- Tuesday 12 November 2024
- Time
- Location
- Sylvius Building
- Room
- Room 1.4.35
Michael Richardson
Why are developmental patterning genes expressed in adults?
Developmental patterning genes are a group of transcription factors, secreted signalling molecules, and components of signal transduction pathways. They are expressed in embryos, and play a key role in controlliing how the body develops. We estimate that there are around 450 of these genes. Surprisingly, some of them remain expressed in adults. We have mapped the expression of these genes in adult chickens and rats using single cell sequening, single nucleus sequencing, bulk transcriptomics and in situ hybridisation. The results suggest that some adult tissues 'remember' at least part of the transcriptional profile they expressed in the embryo. The function of this adult expression of developmental genes is largely unknown but it may have links to the control of stem cell function. Furthermore, disruption in the adult function of developmetal patterning genes is associated with cancer.
Himanshu Chhillar
Balancing plant defenses: How plants fight disease without hurting growth
Plants, like humans, have immune systems that help them fight off diseases. This immune system uses two types of defenses: one that detects pathogen on the surface of cells and another that responds to pathogens inside the cells. While we know a lot about how surface defense work, we still have much to learn about how plants use internal defenses, especially when surface defenses are not active. These two defense systems usually work together, but they need to be carefully controlled. If they are too active, they can slow down plant growth or even cause the plant to damage itself. To keep the right balance, plants rely on a complex network of signals. Our study focuses on a specific kind of internal defense called ‘effector-triggered immunity’ (ETI). We use a special system that allows us to turn on ETI without involving surface defenses, helping us understand how ETI works by itself. We have found two main signaling pathways that play different roles in ETI: one helps strengthen the plant’s defenses, while the other triggers a quick response that stops the pathogen. By understanding these details, we hope to find better ways to boost plant disease resistance without affecting growth, which could lead to stronger, healthier crops.