Scientists from our top-rated Biosciences Department have outlined possible new approaches to protecting crops from devastating diseases by finding common weaknesses in the proteins used by pathogens to attack plants.
The researchers have presented this in a recent review article in The Plant Journal.
Researchers discuss how disease-causing microbes, including fungi and oomycetes, use special proteins called effectors to weaken plants’ natural defences. Of particular interest are some groups of these proteins share the same three-dimensional shape despite having very different genetic make-ups.
These groups, known as SUSS (Sequence-Unrelated but Structurally Similar) effector families, challenge the traditional idea that similar-looking proteins always carry out the same functions.
Recent studies of these effectors have highlighted contain common features on their surface that appear important for helping pathogens infect plants – the question is whether these could represent weak points in the face of emerging AI-based bioengineering technologies.
Instead of developing crop resistance against one pathogen protein at a time, scientists believe future approaches could target entire groups of related proteins.
This could provide broader and longer-lasting protection because pathogens may find it more difficult to change these shared features without affecting their ability to survive.
If true, this could help researchers move towards new methods of controlling plant diseases that threaten global food production.
The review also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and protein design tools in developing future crop protection methods.
AI could help scientists design new molecules that block the vulnerable areas of pathogen proteins or improve plants’ ability to recognise and fight infections.
The researchers say the approach could eventually help reduce crop losses, improve food security and decrease reliance on chemical treatments. Further work is needed to test whether these ideas can be turned into practical solutions for farmers.
Our Department of Biosciences is ranked fourth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027. Visit our Biosciences webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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