Sapinder Bali, PhD

ALT Overview of the characterized root-knot nematode effectors and their target proteins. RKN effectors secreted by the nematode stylet are deposited into the apoplast or into the host cell cytoplasm. A cohort of effectors are known to suppress pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity, and some of these effectors help orchestrate an intricate manipulation of host reactive oxygen species levels and their subsequent downstream signaling cascades. Specific RKN effectors were shown to enter the plant cell nucleus. Their roles are postulated to be modulating gene expression, protecting nucleic acids, or affecting gene splicing to alter host responses.