Plant immune responses to pathogen infection

Research in the San Segundo’s lab focuses on topics related to the plant defense response to pathogen infection. During the last years, different aspects have been investigated, including: analysis of sensing systems, initiation and maintenance of the host response, signal transduction pathways and effector elements in the plant defense response, and crosstalk events in biotic and abiotic stress responses. The main goal of our current research is to understand microRNA (miRNA) functioning for the control of gene expression during the adaptative response of plants (rice, Arabidopsis) to pathogen infection. This studies are carried out in rice and Arabidopsis thaliana. We also investigate host responses during interaction with beneficial fungus, namely arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (rice, maize). Research in our group also seeks to develop tools and approaches that have practical relevance for crop protection.