Project Summary: How can we help crop plants fight an invisible enemy? Zymoseptoriatritici is a wheat pathogen that can conceal itself from its host while slowly growing before dealing the fatal blow that destroys the plant’s leaves, hence preventing photosynthesis. The aim is to create cyclic peptides that interfere with the molecular process of concealment, essentially enabling the plant to fight back during the pathogen’s vulnerable stage at the start of the infection. This will be a novel approach that could replace the use of conventional, expensive pesticides that are harmful for the environment, the surrounding biodiversity, and human health. 

Interesting Fact: I once went on a 16-hour ferry boat trip with my cat from Amsterdam to Newcastle and we both got very seasick!