Artificial intelligence aiding in protein identification may potentially reawaken dormant defenses in agricultural plants.
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In a bid to strengthen the defences of our staple crops against evolving bacterial threats, two research groups led by Gitta Coaker at the University of California, Davis, and Cyril Zipfel at the University of Zurich, are collaborating to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) and natural variation. This collaboration aims to broaden the immune response of stacked cultures against a wider range of bacterial threats.
One of the key components of this research is the study of the immune receptor FLS2, found in the plasma membrane of a plant's cells. FLS2 can detect flagellin, a structural protein in bacteria, and recruits the co-factor BAK1 when it binds with flagellin. This recruitment triggers a phosphorylation signalling cascade that initiates the plant's immune response.
The teams are comparing the binding interactions of the FLS2-flg22-BAK1 complex in both target crop species and wild species to identify areas of difference responsible for conferring broader immune response onto the wild species. Zipfel's study suggests that the same effect can be achieved with fewer base pair changes, streamlining the process.
Meanwhile, the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum poses a significant threat to potato plants, causing them to succumb to wilt disease by destroying their vascular system. This soil-borne pathogen enters plants through their roots and any open wounds.
Jeff Dangl, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, cautions that this is not a permanent fix, as the immune system could require regular updating due to bacteria's ability to evolve. However, these models should provide valuable guidelines for future precision engineering of immune receptors to build stronger, more disease-resistant crops.
This collaborative research is not the only news in the field. The author of a recent article, Jamie Durrani, reports on the EU genome-editing legislation being deemed 'unfit for purpose' by the European Commission. Meanwhile, England has given the green light to gene-edited crops and animals as of 6th April 2023.
The research groups are working to bring these immune system enhancements to crops through gene editing and natural breeding. They are also collaborating with the AI tool AlphaFold to further their research.
Unfortunately, diseases like bacterial wilt and crown gall disease still cause the loss of 13-30% of crops each year. However, with continued research and collaboration, it is hoped that these losses can be significantly reduced.
In a separate news story, rising ozone pollution threatens east Asia's cereal crops, as reported on 19th January 2022. This highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach to crop protection, addressing not just bacterial threats but also environmental factors.
As the battle against crop diseases continues, the collaborative efforts of these research groups are a promising step forward in the fight to secure our food supply and protect our crops from the myriad of threats they face.
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