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Zoe Bernasconi

@zoebernasconi.bsky.social
148 followers 147 following 5 posts

Postdoctoral researcher 🌿 bioinformatics | plant pathology | wheat resistance | genetics of fungal pathogens @ University of Zurich

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Zoe Bernasconi @zoebernasconi.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I am super excited to finally share our article on the identification of AvrWTK4, the first wheat powdery mildew Avr recognised by a tandem kinase protein thanks to an integrated HMA-like domain 🍄🌾 check it out! ➡️ doi.org/10.1038/s414...
doi.org
An HMA-like integrated domain in the wheat tandem kinase WTK4 recognises an RNase-like pathogen effector - Nature Communications
The wheat powdery mildew avirulence effector AvrWTK4 is recognised by the integrated HMA-like domain of the tandem kinase resistance protein WTK4. Wheat powdery mildew evades from WTK4-mediated recogn...
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Reposted by Zoe Bernasconi
Marion C. Müller @marioncmueller.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Super excited to see our work on the Pm3e NLR that recognises two structurally diverse AVR effectors from powdery mildew out in @natcomms.nature.com Congratulations to @lukas-kunz.bsky.social, Beat Keller, and everyone involved! Check it out ➡️https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-72199-w
nature.com
Dual recognition of structurally unrelated mildew effectors underlies the broad-spectrum resistance of Pm3e in wheat - Nature Communications
The wheat NLR Pm3e provides broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew. Here, the authors show that Pm3e recognizes two structurally unrelated effector proteins and that its range can be further...
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Reposted by Zoe Bernasconi
Juan Carlos De la Concepcion @delaconcepcionjc.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Please share! PhD position (4 years) available in my group @zmbp-tuebingen.bsky.social. We look for candidates with solid aptitude in computer science to cross disciplines and use cutting edge imaging to understand host infection by destructive plant pathogens. uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet...
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Nature Plants @natplants.nature.com · 14/01/2026
New OA Article: "Virulence on Pm4 kinase-based resistance is determined by two divergent wheat powdery mildew effectors" rdcu.be/eY3ED AvrPm4 effector / wheat Pm4. The pathogen can evade Pm4 recognition by expressing the suppressor SvrPm4, an RNase-like effector.
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Zoe Bernasconi @zoebernasconi.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Our new article is now online on @natplants.nature.com! ✨ We identified and characterised AvrPm4 and SvrPm4, a pair of powdery mildew effectors controlling avirulence on the wheat kinase fusion resistance protein Pm4 🌾 check it out ➡️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) @slcuplants.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi boost plant resilience by remodelling the plant-pathogen membrane interface Check-out the latest paper from @alexguyon.bsky.social & @dromius.bsky.social 📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social News article www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/arbuscu...
Mutualist-pathogen co-colonisation modulates phosphoinositide signatures at host intracellular interfaces: Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing biosensors for PI4P and PI(4,5)P2. PI(4,5)P2 was tip-enriched at mutualist structures but evenly distributed around pathogen structures. PI4P was absent from pathogen extrahaustorial membranes but present at invasive hyphae and mutualist interfaces. Co-colonisation triggered PI4P recruitment at pathogen haustoria, and enhanced resistance to P. palmivora. Graphic by Alex Guyon.
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Lukas Kunz @lukas-kunz.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
A wheat NLR conferring broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew by recognizing two structurally diverse AVR effectors. Interested? Check out our newest preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Dual recognition of structurally unrelated mildew effectors underlies the broad-spectrum resistance of Pm3e in wheat
Broad-spectrum resistance genes are highly valuable for sustainable crop protection, yet the molecular basis of their activity is often unknown. The Pm3 allelic series in wheat encodes NLR receptors t...
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Reposted by Zoe Bernasconi
Tonni Andersen @tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Six years ago, I started at the MPIPZ with a head full of ideas. What a journey. I’m thrilled to share that, from Jan 2026, I will be moving to Zurich as a chaired associate professor at the University of Zurich. A new chapter, and plenty of roots still to grow. Can’t wait for the adventure ahead!
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Zoe Bernasconi @zoebernasconi.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Check out our new pre-print! ✨ We cloned AvrWTK4, the first wheat powdery mildew effector recognised by a tandem kinase protein, and show that an HMA-like integrated domain in WTK4 acts as pathogen decoy. Discover the whole story on bioRxiv ⬇️
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Isabel saur @izzysaurlab.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Beat Keller from Uni Zürich giving the final keynote of the Powdery mildew workshop #2025ISMPMI Overview of a whole very very successful career in the field!
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Javier Sánchez-Martín @javicheztin.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Check out our work on virulence on Pm4 controlled not by one, but two effectors! Avirulence vs. Suppression, a beautiful case of the arms race between wheat and mildew. Work led by @zoebernasconi.bsky.social , Aline Herger, Pilar Caro, and @lukas-kunz.bsky.social 😍🌱🦠! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Virulence on Pm4 kinase-based resistance is determined by two divergent wheat powdery mildew effectors
The wheat resistance gene Pm4 encodes a kinase fusion protein and has gained particular attention as it confers race-specific resistance against two major wheat pathogens: powdery mildew and blast. He...
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