Plant Innate Immunity

Due to the current situation in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, it is yet unclear whether we can offer the practical course as planned. We  are currently developing plans to offer the course online but this will need to be confirmed. Please check regularly for updates.

The practical course "Plant Innate Immunity" is combined with a seminar and will address two important biological questions:

Week 1: What is the genetic distribution of MAMP recognition systems across the plant kingdom? And what are the genetic components of plant immunity that can be utilised in agriculture?

Week 2: What are the genetic components of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) missing in mutants of the model system A. thaliana? And what are the genetic components pathogens use to suppress plant immunity?

We will use a combination of phenotyping and genotyping analysis to shed light on these questions. For phenotyping, we will use characteristic bioassays to monitor the induction of plant immunity such as the ROS burst and the trade-off between plant immunity and growth. For genotyping, we will provide primers to PCR amplify potentially mutated PTI genes. For genetic manipulation, we transgenically express PTI components of plant species in another species, and use virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to knock-down expression of key PTI genes.

The course requires that students work in groups of two, and each group designs and conducts their own experiments. An introduction into good laboratory practice and experimental design will be given. You will plan your own experiments with the help of supervisors. Standard methods will be provided, which need to be adapted for your own experimental designs. Following your experimental design, you will conduct the experiments.

Each experiment and the obtained results need to be recorded. An introduction into scientific protocol writing will be given. Two weeks after the practical course (14.08.2020) you need to submit your final protocols. Although experiments will be conducted in groups of two, each participant will need to write and submit their individual protocol. For successful completion of the course the protocols need to be approved by the supervisors. Feedback on the protocols will be provided by the supervisors. You can find information on the grading scheme here.

In addition to pedagogical seminars given by the supervisors, we will have 5 student seminars during the practical course. The seminars all address a relevant topic related to the experiments performed during the course, covering both technical aspects and scientific findings. Each group will select one topic and present it to all students in the form of an oral presentation. Yet, all students have to be prepared for each seminar and contribute to the discussion! Students will will provide feedback to all presentations. Supervisors will be available for the seminar preparations ahead of presentations. You can find information on the grading scheme here.

Course Introduction: 06.07.2020 13:30-14:00

Please note that there is an accompanying lecture on "Plant Innate Immunity" Mondays 12:00-13:30

Due to the current situation related to the coronavirus outbreak, it may be necessary to offer the practical course in a different format. Therefore, please check this website regularly for updates.

You can download the course plan here. 

You can download the course introductory seminars here: Overview and how to give a presentation. It also gives advise how to select your own plant/plant sample. Introduction into the practical course.

You can download the seminar topics with selected key publications, and group assignments with seminar topics here. Preparatory discussions for your seminars will take place Monday 13.07.2020.

You can download the introduction into Good Experimental Practice and Laboratory Safety here.

You can download the course script with standard methods here. Please print your own copy and bring to the course. Please also do not forget to bring your own lab coats. Thanks.

You can find an overview over the workload for the seminar and the practical course here.

Student seminars:

Topic 1: How genetic screenings revealed components of the plant immune system

Topic 2: How MAMPs induce ROS and its use to identify immunity components

Topic 3: How Agrobacteria manipulate genomes and its use to engineer immunity

Topic 4: How pathogens deliver effectors and their use as tools to probe the immune system

Topic 5: How VIGS is used for genetic manipulation and its use in studying plant immunity

Results:

Overview:

1. MAMP recognition systems across the plant kingdom

2. MAMP recognition in Arabidopsis PTI mutants: ROS and SGI

3. MAMP recognition in transformed N. benthamiana

4. MAMP recognition upon effector expression

5. MAMP recognition upon VIGS

6. At mutant genotyping

ROS measurements:

ROS data analysis presentation

Example ROS analysis

1. MAMP responses across the plant kingdom

2. MAMP responses in Arabidopsis mutants

3. MAMP responses in transformed N. benthamiana

4. MAMP responses upon effector expression in N. benthamiana

5. MAMP responses upon VIGS in N. benthamiana

Genotyping:

PCR results

VIGS:

RT-PCR results

Example Gels for protocol

Images of plant phenotypes

Protocol: Please submit your individual protocols latest by Friday 14.08.2020 15:00 pm in the form of a pdf document.