Small RNA transport from pathogens to plants.

Filamentous pathogens evolved virulence strategies to translocate small interfering RNAs into plants that silence important host immunity factors for infection. This phenomenon is called cross-kingdom RNA interference. The mechanisms of fungal-plant trans-kingdom RNA transport are unknown. In mammals, small RNA-mediated cell-to-cell communication based on the secretion of extracellular vesicles, often called exosomes. We are able isolate exosome-like structures released by fungal plant pathogens that encompass pathogen small RNAs. In this project we propose to characterize extracellular small RNA transport from pathogens to plants with the aim at understanding the plant cellular uptake of pathogen small RNAs.