Dr Tolga Bozkurt

Giannakopoulou A, Schornack S, Bozkurt TO, Haart D, Ro D-K, Faraldos JA, Kamoun S, O'Maille PEet al., 2014, Variation in capsidiol sensitivity between phytophthora infestans and phytophthora capsici is consistent with their host range, PLoS One, Vol: 9, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 1932-6203

Plants protect themselves against a variety of invading pathogenic organisms via sophisticated defence mechanisms. These responses include deployment of specialized antimicrobial compounds, such as phytoalexins, that rapidly accumulate at pathogen infection sites. However, the extent to which these compounds contribute to species-level resistance and their spectrum of action remain poorly understood. Capsidiol, a defense related phytoalexin, is produced by several solanaceous plants including pepper and tobacco during microbial attack. Interestingly, capsidiol differentially affects growth and germination of the oomycete pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora capsici, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study we revisited the differential effect of capsidiol on P. infestans and P. capsici, using highly pure capsidiol preparations obtained from yeast engineered to express the capsidiol biosynthetic pathway. Taking advantage of transgenic Phytophthora strains expressing fluorescent markers, we developed a fluorescence-based method to determine the differential effect of capsidiol on Phytophtora growth. Using these assays, we confirm major differences in capsidiol sensitivity between P. infestans and P. capsici and demonstrate that capsidiol alters the growth behaviour of both Phytophthora species. Finally, we report intraspecific variation within P. infestans isolates towards capsidiol tolerance pointing to an arms race between the plant and the pathogens in deployment of defence related phytoalexins.

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Bozkurt TO, Richardson A, Dagdas YF, Mongrand S, Kamoun S, Raffaele Set al., 2014, The Plant Membrane-Associated REMORIN1.3 Accumulates in Discrete Perihaustorial Domains and Enhances Susceptibility to <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Vol: 165, Pages: 1005-1018, ISSN: 0032-0889

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• Citations: 81

Dong S, Stam R, Cano LM, Song J, Sklenar J, Yoshida K, Bozkurt TO, Oliva R, Liu Z, Tian M, Win J, Banfield MJ, Jones AME, van der Hoorn RAL, Kamoun Set al., 2014, Effector specialization in a lineage of the Irish potato famine pathogen, SCIENCE, Vol: 343, Pages: 552-555, ISSN: 0036-8075

Accelerated gene evolution is a hallmark of pathogen adaptation following a host jump. Here, we describe the biochemical basis of adaptation and specialization of a plant pathogen effector after its colonization of a new host. Orthologous protease inhibitor effectors from the Irish potato famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, and its sister species, Phytophthora mirabilis, which is responsible for infection of Mirabilis jalapa, are adapted to protease targets unique to their respective host plants. Amino acid polymorphisms in both the inhibitors and their target proteases underpin this biochemical specialization. Our results link effector specialization to diversification and speciation of this plant pathogen.

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van Damme M, Bozkurt TO, Cakir C, Schornack S, Sklenar J, Jones AME, Kamoun Set al., 2012, The Irish Potato Famine pathogen phytophthora infestans translocates the CRN8 kinase into host plant cells, PLoS Pathogens, Vol: 8, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 1553-7366

Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of late blight on potato and tomato. It is now well established that oomycetes, such as P. infestans, secrete an arsenal of effector proteins that modulate plant innate immunity to enable infection. The Crinkler (CRN) effector family containing the LFLAK translocation motif represents a new class of cytoplasmic effectors from oomycetes. The N-terminal domain, which includes this motif, is dispensable for cell death induction in planta, indicating the presence of modular domains that are involved in distinct processes. The C-terminal/effector domain of CRN8 localizes to the host nucleus and nuclear localization is required for triggering cell death. The CRN8 effector domain has similarity to plant Serine/Threonine RD kinases. This intriguing finding raises the possibility that CRN8 mimics a specific class of plant enzymes, a feature that has been observed for several other pathogen effectors. Using biochemical assays, we confirmed that the C-terminal domain of CRN8 has kinase activity, and have identified by mass spectrometry five serines shown to be auto-phosphorylated. To the best of our knowledge, CRN8 is the first reported secreted active kinase from a microbial plant pathogen.

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Bozkurt TO, Schornack S, Banfield MJ, Kamoun Set al., 2012, Oomycetes, effectors, and all that jazz, CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY, Vol: 15, Pages: 483-492, ISSN: 1369-5266

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• Citations: 183

Saunders DGO, Breen S, Win J, Schornack S, Hein I, Bozkurt TO, Champouret N, Vleeshouwers VGAA, Birch PRJ, Gilroy EM, Kamoun Set al., 2012, Host Protein BSL1 Associates with <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> RXLR Effector AVR2 and the <i>Solanum demissum</i> Immune Receptor R2 to Mediate Disease Resistance, PLANT CELL, Vol: 24, Pages: 3420-3434, ISSN: 1040-4651

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• Citations: 104

Bozkurt TO, Schornack S, Win J, Shindo T, Ilyas M, Oliva R, Cano LM, Jones AME, Huitema E, van der Hoorn RAL, Kamoun Set al., 2011, <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> effector AVRblb2 prevents secretion of a plant immune protease at the haustorial interface, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Vol: 108, Pages: 20832-20837, ISSN: 0027-8424

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• Citations: 199

Kaschani F, Shabab M, Bozkurt T, Shindo T, Schornack S, Gu C, Ilyas M, Win J, Kamoun S, van der Hoorn RALet al., 2010, An Effector-Targeted Protease Contributes to Defense against <i>Phytophthora</i> <i>infestans</i> and Is under Diversifying Selection in Natural Hosts, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Vol: 154, Pages: 1794-1804, ISSN: 0032-0889

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• Citations: 124

Schornack S, van Damme M, Bozkurt TO, Cano LM, Smoker M, Thines M, Gaulin E, Kamoun S, Huitema Eet al., 2010, Ancient class of translocated oomycete effectors targets the host nucleus, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Vol: 107, Pages: 17421-17426, ISSN: 0027-8424

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• Citations: 224

Bozkurt TO, McGrann GRD, MacCormack R, Boyd LA, Akkaya MSet al., 2010, Cellular and transcriptional responses of wheat during compatible and incompatible race-specific interactions with <i>Puccinia striiformis</i> f. sp <i>tritici</i>, MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Vol: 11, Pages: 625-640, ISSN: 1464-6722

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• Citations: 40

Oliva R, Win J, Raffaele S, Boutemy L, Bozkurt TO, Chaparro-Garcia A, Segretin ME, Stam R, Schornack S, Cano LM, van Damme M, Huitema E, Thines M, Banfield MJ, Kamoun Set al., 2010, Recent developments in effector biology of filamentous plant pathogens (vol 12, pg 705, 2010), CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Vol: 12, Pages: 1015-1015, ISSN: 1462-5814

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• Citations: 10

Oliva R, Win J, Raffaele S, Boutemy L, Bozkurt TO, Chaparro-Garcia A, Segretin ME, Stam R, Schornack S, Cano LM, van Damme M, Huitema E, Thines M, Banfield MJ, Kamoun Set al., 2010, Recent developments in effector biology of filamentous plant pathogens, CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Vol: 12, Pages: 705-715, ISSN: 1462-5814

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• Citations: 84

Schornack S, Huitema E, Cano LM, Bozkurt TO, Oliva R, van Damme M, Schwizer S, Raffaele S, Chaparro-Garcia A, Farrer R, Segretin ME, Bos J, Haas BJ, Zody MC, Nusbaum C, Win J, Thines M, Kamoun Set al., 2009, Ten things to know about oomycete effectors, MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Vol: 10, Pages: 795-803, ISSN: 1464-6722

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• Citations: 125

Haas BJ, Kamoun S, Zody MC, Jiang RHY, Handsaker RE, Cano LM, Grabherr M, Kodira CD, Raffaele S, Torto-Alalibo T, Bozkurt TO, Ah-Fong AMV, Alvarado L, Anderson VL, Armstrong MR, Avrova A, Baxter L, Beynon J, Boevink PC, Bollmann SR, Bos JIB, Bulone V, Cai G, Cakir C, Carrington JC, Chawner M, Conti L, Costanzo S, Ewan R, Fahlgren N, Fischbach MA, Fugelstad J, Gilroy EM, Gnerre S, Green PJ, Grenville-Briggs LJ, Griffith J, Gruenwald NJ, Horn K, Horner NR, Hu C-H, Huitema E, Jeong D-H, Jones AME, Jones JDG, Jones RW, Karlsson EK, Kunjeti SG, Lamour K, Liu Z, Ma L, MacLean D, Chibucos MC, McDonald H, McWalters J, Meijer HJG, Morgan W, Morris PF, Munro CA, O'Neill K, Ospina-Giraldo M, Pinzon A, Pritchard L, Ramsahoye B, Ren Q, Restrepo S, Roy S, Sadanandom A, Savidor A, Schornack S, Schwartz DC, Schumann UD, Schwessinger B, Seyer L, Sharpe T, Silvar C, Song J, Studholme DJ, Sykes S, Thines M, van de Vondervoort PJI, Phuntumart V, Wawra S, Weide R, Win J, Young C, Zhou S, Fry W, Meyers BC, van West P, Ristaino J, Govers F, Birch PRJ, Whisson SC, Judelson HS, Nusbaum Cet al., 2009, Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>, NATURE, Vol: 461, Pages: 393-398, ISSN: 0028-0836

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• Citations: 1037

Oh S-K, Young C, Lee M, Oliva R, Bozkurt TO, Cano LM, Win J, Bos JIB, Liu H-Y, van Damme M, Morgan W, Choi D, Van der Vossen EAG, Vleeshouwers VGAA, Kamoun Set al., 2009, In Planta Expression Screens of <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> RXLR Effectors Reveal Diverse Phenotypes, Including Activation of the <i>Solanum bulbocastanum</i> Disease Resistance Protein Rpi-blb2, PLANT CELL, Vol: 21, Pages: 2928-2947, ISSN: 1040-4651

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• Citations: 250

Unver T, Bozkurt O, Akkaya MS, 2008, Identification of differentially expressed transcripts from leaves of the boron tolerant plant <i>Gypsophila perfoliata</i> L., PLANT CELL REPORTS, Vol: 27, Pages: 1411-1422, ISSN: 0721-7714

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• Citations: 17

Bozkurt O, Unver T, Akkaya MS, 2007, Genes associated with resistance to wheat yellow rust disease identified by differential display analysis, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Vol: 71, Pages: 251-259, ISSN: 0885-5765

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• Citations: 21

Bozkurt O, Hakki EE, Akkaya MS, 2007, Isolation and sequence analysis of wheat NBS-LRR type disease resistance gene analogs using degenerate PCR primers, BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS, Vol: 45, Pages: 469-486, ISSN: 0006-2928

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• Citations: 13