Sophien Kamoun
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View article: 2025 the year in review
2025 the year in review Open
Read it on Medium (preferred). It’s that time of year when we recap our team’s publications and other highlights. Happy birthday, AlphaFold 3! Google DeepMind visits TSL New takes on plant immune receptors A “spectacular” cryo-EM structure…
View article: 2025 the year in review
2025 the year in review Open
Read it on Medium (preferred). It’s that time of year when we recap our team’s publications and other highlights. Happy birthday, AlphaFold 3! Google DeepMind visits TSL New takes on plant immune receptors A “spectacular” cryo-EM structure…
View article: The autoactivity of tomato helper NLR immune proteins of the NRC clade is unaltered in <i>Nicotiana benthamiana prf</i> mutants
The autoactivity of tomato helper NLR immune proteins of the NRC clade is unaltered in <i>Nicotiana benthamiana prf</i> mutants Open
Nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat immune receptors of the NRC clade act in one direction, with autoactive helpers able to trigger hypersensitive cell death without their sensor partners.
View article: An activated wheat CC<sub>G10</sub>-NLR immune receptor forms an octameric resistosome
An activated wheat CC<sub>G10</sub>-NLR immune receptor forms an octameric resistosome Open
SUMMARY Nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptors (NLRs) are widespread intracellular immune sensors across kingdoms. In plants, the G10-type coiled-coil (CC G10 )-NLRs form a distinct phylogenetic clade that remains poorl…
View article: Rewinding the tape: historical contingency and functional constraints have shaped the evolution of APikL virulence effectors in the blast fungus
Rewinding the tape: historical contingency and functional constraints have shaped the evolution of APikL virulence effectors in the blast fungus Open
Protein evolution is influenced by historical contingencies and functional constraints, but their combined impact on rapidly diversifying pathogen virulence effectors remains poorly understood. Here, we combined ancestral state reconstruct…
View article: A plant pathogen effector blocks stepwise assembly of a helper NLR resistosome
A plant pathogen effector blocks stepwise assembly of a helper NLR resistosome Open
Helper NLRs function as central nodes in plant immune networks. Upon activation, they oligomerize into inflammasome-like resistosomes to initiate immune signaling, yet the dynamics of resistosome assembly remain poorly understood. Here, we…
View article: An effector from the potato late blight pathogen bridges ENTH-domain protein TOL9a to an activated helper NLR to suppress immunity
An effector from the potato late blight pathogen bridges ENTH-domain protein TOL9a to an activated helper NLR to suppress immunity Open
Pathogens counteract central nodes of NLR immune receptor networks to suppress immunity. However, the mechanisms by which pathogens hijack helper NLR pathways are poorly understood. Here, we show that an effector from the potato late bligh…
View article: A root-specific NLR network mediates immune signaling of resistance genes against plant parasitic nematodes
A root-specific NLR network mediates immune signaling of resistance genes against plant parasitic nematodes Open
Plant nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs) confer disease resistance to many foliar and root parasites. However, the extent to which NLR-mediated immunity is differentially regulated between plant organ…
View article: The <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> effector Pwl2 alters HIPP43 localization to suppress host immunity
The <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> effector Pwl2 alters HIPP43 localization to suppress host immunity Open
The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae secretes a battery of effector proteins to facilitate host infection. Among these effectors, pathogenicity toward weeping lovegrass 2 (Pwl2) was originally identified as a host specificity determina…
View article: Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector
Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector Open
Parasites can counteract host immunity by suppressing nucleotide binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins that function as immune receptors. We previously showed that a cyst nematode virulence effector SPRYSEC15 (SS15) binds and inhi…
View article: The autoactivity of tomato helper NLR immune proteins of the NRC clade is unaltered in<i>prf</i>mutants of<i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i>
The autoactivity of tomato helper NLR immune proteins of the NRC clade is unaltered in<i>prf</i>mutants of<i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i> Open
Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs) can function in networks of sensors and helpers to induce hypersensitive cell death and immunity against pathogens. The tomato sensor NLR Prf guards the Pto kinase f…
View article: Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of <i>Phytophthora</i>, “Plant Destroyer”
Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of <i>Phytophthora</i>, “Plant Destroyer” Open
Phytophthora is a long-established, well-known, and globally important genus of plant pathogens. Phylogenetic evidence has shown that the biologically distinct, obligate biotrophic downy mildews evolved from Phytophthora at least twice. Be…
View article: A hierarchical immune receptor network in lettuce reveals contrasting patterns of evolution in sensor and helper NLRs
A hierarchical immune receptor network in lettuce reveals contrasting patterns of evolution in sensor and helper NLRs Open
Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs) are known for their rapid evolution, even at the intraspecific level, yet the rates of evolution differ significantly across various NLR classes. Within the NRC (NLR…
View article: Can AI Modelling of Protein Structures Distinguish Between Sensor and Helper NLR Immune Receptors?
Can AI Modelling of Protein Structures Distinguish Between Sensor and Helper NLR Immune Receptors? Open
NLR immune receptors can be functionally organized in genetically linked sensor-helper pairs. However, methods to categorize paired NLRs remain limited, primarily relying on the presence of non-canonical domains in some sensor NLRs. Here, …
View article: Can AI modelling of protein structures distinguish between sensor and helper NLR immune receptors?
Can AI modelling of protein structures distinguish between sensor and helper NLR immune receptors? Open
NLR immune receptors can be functionally organized in genetically linked sensor-helper pairs. However, methods to categorize paired NLRs remain limited, primarily relying on the presence of non-canonical domains in some sensor NLRs. Here, …
View article: The blast pathogen effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice heavy metal-associated (HMA) proteins to co-opt their function in immunity
The blast pathogen effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice heavy metal-associated (HMA) proteins to co-opt their function in immunity Open
Intracellular nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) receptors play crucial roles in immunity across multiple domains of life. In plants, a subset of NLRs contain noncanonical integrated domains that are thought…
View article: A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity
A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity Open
NRCs are essential helper NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat) proteins that execute immune responses triggered by sensor NLRs. The resting state of NbNRC2 was recently shown to be a homodimer, but the sensor-activated s…
View article: Activation of plant immunity through conversion of a helper NLR homodimer into a resistosome
Activation of plant immunity through conversion of a helper NLR homodimer into a resistosome Open
Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins can engage in complex interactions to detect pathogens and execute a robust immune response via downstream helper NLRs. However, the biochemical mechanisms of helper NLR acti…
View article: A pathogen effector co-opts a host RabGAP protein to remodel pathogen interface and subvert defense-related secretion
A pathogen effector co-opts a host RabGAP protein to remodel pathogen interface and subvert defense-related secretion Open
Pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate host cell membrane dynamics, a crucial adaptation to survive in hostile environments shaped by innate immune responses. Plant-derived membrane interfaces, engulfing invasive hyp…
View article: A helper NLR targets organellar membranes to trigger immunity
A helper NLR targets organellar membranes to trigger immunity Open
In plants, NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat) proteins execute innate immunity through the formation of resistosomes that accumulate at the plasma membrane. However, the extent to which NLR resistosomes target other ce…
View article: GetGenome: Overcoming inequalities in access to genomics technology
GetGenome: Overcoming inequalities in access to genomics technology Open
Although genomics has become integral to life science research, inequitable access to genomics technology remains prevalent. GetGenome, a non-profit organization, aims to overcome this by providing equitable access to genomics technology a…
View article: Multiple Horizontal Mini-chromosome Transfers Drive Genome Evolution of Clonal Blast Fungus Lineages
Multiple Horizontal Mini-chromosome Transfers Drive Genome Evolution of Clonal Blast Fungus Lineages Open
Crop disease pandemics are often driven by asexually reproducing clonal lineages of plant pathogens that reproduce asexually. How these clonal pathogens continuously adapt to their hosts despite harboring limited genetic variation, and in …
View article: Bioengineering a plant NLR immune receptor with a robust binding interface toward a conserved fungal pathogen effector
Bioengineering a plant NLR immune receptor with a robust binding interface toward a conserved fungal pathogen effector Open
Bioengineering of plant immune receptors has emerged as a key strategy for generating novel disease resistance traits to counteract the expanding threat of plant pathogens to global food security. However, current approaches are limited by…
View article: Bioengineering secreted proteases converts divergent Rcr3 orthologs and paralogs into extracellular immune co-receptors
Bioengineering secreted proteases converts divergent Rcr3 orthologs and paralogs into extracellular immune co-receptors Open
Secreted immune proteases “Required for Cladosporium resistance-3” (Rcr3) and “Phytophthora-inhibited protease-1” (Pip1) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are both inhibited by Avirulence-2 (Avr2) from the fungal plant pathogen Cladosporium…
View article: A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity
A disease resistance protein triggers oligomerization of its NLR helper into a hexameric resistosome to mediate innate immunity Open
NRCs are essential helper NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat) proteins that execute the immune response triggered by disease resistance proteins, also known as sensor NLRs. The structure of the resting state of NbNRC2 w…
View article: Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae Open
Filamentous plant pathogens deliver effector proteins into host cells to suppress host defence responses and manipulate metabolic processes to support colonization. Understanding the evolution and molecular function of these effectors prov…
View article: Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector
Helper NLR immune protein NRC3 evolved to evade inhibition by a cyst nematode virulence effector Open
Parasites can counteract host immunity by suppressing nucleotide binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins that function as immune receptors. We previously showed that a cyst nematode virulence effector SPRYSEC15 (SS15) binds and inhi…
View article: The <i>NRC0</i> gene cluster of sensor and helper NLR immune receptors is functionally conserved across asterid plants
The <i>NRC0</i> gene cluster of sensor and helper NLR immune receptors is functionally conserved across asterid plants Open
Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor (NLR) proteins can form complex receptor networks to confer innate immunity. An NLR-REQUIRED FOR CELL DEATH (NRC) is a phylogenetically related node that functions downs…