Our research focuses on how plants use immune receptors to perceive diverse pathogens and the spatial regulation of defense. We are interested in understanding how plant surface localized receptor kinases recognize and respond to diverse ligands. Experiments also focus on intracellular tandem kinase proteins that can act as pathogen sensors in monocots. Recent research investigates immune receptor variation and receptor engineering while considering pathogen variation. We work on diverse pathogens including vascular pathogens (Candidatus Liberibacter and Clavibacter) as well as foliar pathogens (Pseudomonas syringae and Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici). 

A central pathogen virulence mechanism is their ability to secrete pathogen proteins, called effectors, that modulate their host during infection. We are using effectors as molecular probes to better understand how bacteria cause disease.