Dr Saima Shahid - University of Sheffield

Dr Saima Shahid

A fundamental question in decoding host-parasite interactions is how do organisms discriminate between self and non-self? Historically, research in this area has concentrated on dissecting the response from a single-genome perspective - either the host plant or the invading parasite. However, the complexity of plant–parasite interactions goes beyond the usual suspects of effector proteins and signalling molecules. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that regulatory small RNAs (20-24 nucleotides) move between closely interacting species, trigger non-self gene silencing and act as virulence factors in plant-parasite interactions. However, there is a large gap in our understanding of the molecular events underlying the biogenesis, transfer, and function of such mobile interspecies
RNAs. Previous research has limited the scope of the mobile small RNA to a battle of microRNAs targeting non-self gene transcripts. However, this narrow view ignores the larger RNA warfare of small interfering RNAs, chromatin modification, and interaction with transposable elements. To better understand the extent of mobile small RNA-mediated regulation, we are currently investigating the
dynamic changes in genomic DNA methylation during host-parasite communication.