Welcome to the Ma lab!
Plants, being sessile and lacking adaptive immune system, have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms to combat microbial invasion. Plant innate immunity is activated when cell-surface or intracellular receptors detect pathogen-derived molecular signatures or pathogen-induced disturbances. This recognition triggers a cascade of rapid immune responses, including transcriptome reprogramming, production of reactive oxygen species, activation of lipid signaling, metabolic reprogramming, and in some cases, localized cell death to restrict pathogen spread. Despite significant progress over the past two decades, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which plants sense microbes, initiate defense signaling, and fine-tune these responses remain poorly understood.
Our laboratory integrate biochemistry, proteomics, genetics, and cell biology to investigate how plant innate immunity is regulated by various post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and proteolytic cleavage. By combining mechanistic insights with innovative molecular engineering approaches, we work toward developing strategies to create crops with broad-spectrum, durable resistance to pathogens—an essential goal for sustainable agriculture and global food security.
Xiyu Ma Lab 