Project 1. Immune boosting strategies for plant pathogen defense
To control pathogen growth, the molecular basis of plant immune systems has to be understood in advance. We use various model plants, such as arabidopsis, micro-tom, and lettuce, to discover novel factors involved in plant immunity. We aim to utilize this knowledge for the improvement of major crops and medicinal herbs.
Project 2. Artificial evolution of bacterial predators for plant pathogen defense
Chemical pesticides are frequently ineffective when it comes to bacterial strains, but are nevertheless harmful to the environment. Our team is working on more environment-friendly strategies to eliminate plant pathogens. We are investigating two novel methods in Caenorhabditis elegans, a natural predator of soil-borne bacteria. Specifically, we are creating C. elegans strains via experimental evolution methods that are more efficient and can act as specific predators against uncontrollable bacterial pathogens. Our ultimate goal is to increase the sustainability of agricultural practices with these novel strains.
Project 3. Biocontrol agents for plant pathogen defense
Microorganisms that can inhibit pathogens are sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. In this project, we isolate and investigate the pure cultures of these biocontrol agents (BCAs) to reveal their molecular and physiological interactions with target pathogens. Our aim is to optimize BCA use for a more sustainable and efficient pathogen defense in agriculture.
Project 4. Virus-mediated genome editing for antibiotic-resistant soil-borne bacteria
The wide spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) is increasingly becoming a serious threat to ecosystems. This problem is largely due to the excessive use of pesticides and antibiotics in agriculture, which remain in livestock manure and recurrently affect other organisms, including humans. To address this urgent issue, we attempt to modify viruses as synthetic biological weapons. As viruses have been historical assassinators of bacteria, we aim to design a viral system that can specifically disrupt antibiotic-resistance genes in bacteria. With the help of these synthetic viruses we expect to be able to safely handle any issues related to environmental antibiotic resistance.
