Genomics and proteomics applications in plant-pathogen interaction

Abstract

Using genomic technologies, it is now possible to address research hypotheses in the context of entire developmental or biochemical pathways, gene networks, and chromosomal location of relevant genes and their inferred evolutionary history. Through a range of platforms, researchers can survey an entire transcriptome under a variety of experimental and field conditions. Interpretation of such data has led to new insights and revealed previously undescribed phenomena. In the area of plant-pathogen interactions, transcript profiling has provided unparalleled perception into the mechanisms underlying gene-for-gene resistance and basal defense, host vs non host resistance, biotrophy vs necrotrophy, and pathogenicity of vascular vs nonvascular pathogens, among many others. In this way, genomic technologies have facilitated a system-wide approach to unifying themes and unique features in the interactions of hosts and pathogens. Access to complete genomic sequences, coupled with rapidly accumulating data related to RNA and protein expression patterns have made it possible to determine comprehensively how genes contribute to complex phenotypes. Transcript profiling experiments provide a snapshot or a series of snapshots of global transcript levels. These snapshots can aid in the discovery of genes putatively involved in a process and identification of a set of coregulated genes that may represent part of a regulatory network. As analysis of the host transcriptome has been highly informative, analysis of the pathogen transcriptome has also been fruitful, identifying genes involved in pathogenesis that other methods have failed to uncover. Transcriptome analysis has fuelled a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions through examination of both compatible and incompatible interactions and comparison of responses mediated by different resistance genes.