In our laboratory we study the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions. We focus on the interaction of tomato with a Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, a causal agent of the speck disease. Particularly, we are interested in the mechanisms implicated in the activation and regulation of plant defense. Our long-term goal is to use this knowledge to develop novel strategies for the generation of plants with increased resistance to diseases. 

Plants have the ability to activate a defense response through the perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). This first layer of plant defense is named MAMP-triggered immunity (MTI). During evolution, some pathogens have developed virulence proteins (effectors) that are introduced inside the cell cytoplasm. These effector proteins can manipulate the plant cell metabolism and also suppress the immune response, in order to promote bacterial development. The second layer of defense named ETI (Effector-triggered immunity) is activated upon recognition of some effectors by resistance proteins (R-proteins).

Using molecular biology, biochemiestry, bioinfomatics and functional genomics, we aim at contributing to understanding the signaling mechanisms involved in the tomato defense responses against Pseudomonas syringae.