Research

The Kunkel Lab is interested in the regulatory mechanisms governing interactions between bacterial plant pathogens and their hosts. Specifically, we want to understand the molecular basis of pathogenesis and disease development and have been focusing on the identification and characterization of both pathogen virulence factors and their targets in plant cells.  Our group studies the bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 (PtoDC3000) and two of its hosts, Arabidopsis thaliana (a small weed in the mustard family) and tomato (Fig. 1). In these systems both pathogen and hosts are amenable to genetic and molecular analyses.  Recently, we have been investigating the mechanisms by which PtoDC3000 manipulates hormone signaling in the host.  To learn more about P. syringae and our research projects, please see the menu to the right.