{"id":145565,"date":"2026-07-01T08:56:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T00:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?post_type=hdr-r-projects&#038;p=145565"},"modified":"2026-07-01T08:56:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T00:56:26","slug":"deciphering-pathogen-interactome-and-host-pathogen-interactions-in-crops-using-mass-spectrometry-techniques","status":"publish","type":"hdr-r-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/hdr-r-projects\/deciphering-pathogen-interactome-and-host-pathogen-interactions-in-crops-using-mass-spectrometry-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"Deciphering pathogen interactome and host\u2013pathogen interactions in crops using mass spectrometry techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"Tractors harvesting a field\" class=\"wp-image-119011\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:1200px;height:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1260x630.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1-1920x960.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/agriculture-environement-2000x1000px-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plant fungal pathogens manipulate host cellular processes through secreted proteins and membrane-associated interactions that remain poorly characterised at the molecular level. This project will apply mass spectrometry, such as XL-MS, to directly capture and identify protein\u2013protein interactions occurring at the host\u2013pathogen interface during crop infection. Using established Arabidopsis\u2013Sclerotinia and cereal pathosystems, including wheat\/barley infected with Parastagonospora nodorum and Pyrenophora species, the project will investigate apoplastic, plasma membrane, and extracellular vesicle-associated proteomes across early and necrotrophic infection stages. The work combines advanced molecular skills, including proteomics, subcellular fractionation, and computational analysis, to resolve transient effector\u2013target and receptor\u2013ligand interactions that underpin disease susceptibility and immunity. Outcomes will provide novel mechanistic insights into fungal pathogenicity and host defence signalling while generating molecular targets relevant to resistance breeding and crop protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Aim&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Identify and characterise protein interaction networks at the host\u2013pathogen interface in cereal crop diseases using standard mass spectrometry, adjacent mass spectrometry techniques, and compartment-specific proteomics, to decipher pathogenicity mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Objectives&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply in vivo and in vitro mass spectrometry (MS) and cross-linkage MS (XL-MS) approaches to capture host\u2013pathogen protein complexes during infection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify effector\u2013target interactions, receptor\u2013ligand associations, and extracellular signalling networks involved in disease progression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate proteomics data with existing genomic and transcriptomic resources to map resistance and susceptibility pathways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Validate key protein interactions associated with necrotrophic fungal pathogenicity and host defence responses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Untangle conserved structural properties driving pathogen proteome interactions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply bioinformatics pipelines to XL-MS and tailor the existing methods to crop-pathogen interactions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Significance&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project addresses a major knowledge gap in crop pathology by moving beyond genomic prediction to direct experimental identification of molecular interactions occurring during fungal infection. While transcriptomics and comparative genomics have identified candidate effectors and resistance loci, the physical interaction landscape between pathogen and host proteins remains largely unresolved. By applying XL-MS to crop pathosystems, this project will generate one of the first interaction-resolved maps of the wheat\/barley\u2013necrotrophic fungal interface. The findings will improve understanding of extracellular immune signalling, susceptibility mechanisms, and effector delivery pathways, including protein secretome biology. The project also establishes advanced structural proteomics capability for plant pathology research in Australia and provides translational outcomes relevant to resistance breeding, biomarker discovery, and novel fungicide target development. The interdisciplinary integration of proteomics, molecular plant pathology, protein structural approaches and bioinformatics positions the work at the forefront of functional crop genomics and disease systems biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Ideal Candidate&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are looking for a self-motivated PhD candidate with a degree in Molecular biology, proteomics, plant pathology, biochemistry, or a related discipline. Experience with protein analysis, mass spectrometry data processing, computational biology, or omics data integration is desirable. Understanding of structural biology, protein biochemistry and molecular cell biology is beneficial. Additionally, the applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project is open to International and Domestic applicants.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Scholarship&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/scholarships\/research-training-program-rtp-scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RTP scholarship<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Enquires and How to Apply&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For enquires about this opportunity contact Dr Callum Verdonk at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:Callum.Verdonk@curtin.edu.au\">Callum.Verdonk@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To formally apply submit an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.curtin.edu.au\/Produce\/Form\/External%20Forms\/Graduate%20Research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Expression of Interest<\/a>\u00a0to Dr Callum Verdonk during the Central Scholarship round (July 1st &#8211; July 31st 2026)\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":0,"template":"","faculties":[51],"hdr_types":[5487],"research_areas":[34],"class_list":["post-145565","hdr-r-projects","type-hdr-r-projects","status-publish","hentry","faculties-science-and-engineering","hdr_types-rtp-scholarship","research_areas-agriculture-and-environment"],"acf":false,"featured_image":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hdr-r-projects"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145565\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faculties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faculties?post=145565"},{"taxonomy":"hdr_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr_types?post=145565"},{"taxonomy":"research_areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_areas?post=145565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}