Brian J. Staskawicz
University of California, Berkeley
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Primary Section: 62, Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences Secondary Section: 25, Plant Biology Membership Type:
Member
(elected 1998)
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Research Interests
The major emphasis of my laboratory is to elucidate the molecular basis of plant disease resistance. This includes understanding the molecular basis of plant-pathogen specificity and the subsequent signal transduction events that are involved in the disease-resistance-signaling pathway. We are currently employing several model systems to clone genes from both the host and the pathogen that specify plant disease resistance. The model systems that we are currently employing include the interaction of Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato, and pepper with several phytopathogenic bacteria in the genera Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Our ultimate goal is to genetically engineer plants for disease resistance in such a way as to reduce the use of environmentally damaging pesticides.
