PPEM Seminar Series: Dr. Tim McNellis

Abstract: Harpins are proteins secreted by most gram-negative bacterial species pathogenic to plants. While dissimilar in primary structure, harpins share the property of being able to elicit plant defenses when applied to plants as purified proteins. We used germplasm collection resources and genetic mapping to identify potential receptors for harpins in two harpin-responsive plant species: Nicotiana tabacum and Arabidopsis thaliana. This discovery represents the first major step towards solving a long-standing mystery in phytobacteriology and suggests some potential applications for plant disease management.

Bio: Tim McNellis is an Associate Professor in the Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Department, where he has been a faculty member since 1999. His research program spans microbiology and plant biology, focusing on bacterial diseases of plants.