Kathryn Wright

Honorary Associate
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

During my career at the Institute, much of my work involved the application of imaging and cell biology techniques to investigate the interactions between pathogens and plants.

Research

The colonisation of plants by human pathogenic bacteria

In collaboration with Nicola Holden, I investigated the colonisation of young plants marketed as micro-herbs or microgreens, by Escherichia coli O157:H7 Sakai. Our work showed that if seeds germinate in the presence of low numbers of bacteria the young plants, e.g. basil, become extensively colonised by bacteria, most being present on the surface of the leaf tissue, but others within the leaf interior. This highlights that micro-herbs represent a potential hazard of contamination by food-borne pathogens, and to mitigate the risk, they should be considered in the same manner as sprouted seeds.

Once inside a leaf of a susceptible species for example Nicotiana benthamiana, E. coli Sakai can form large colonies showing characteristics of biofilm formation including production of curli and extracellular DNA.

In other species including spinach and lettuce, the bacteria can only be found in small numbers and do not appear to proliferate.

I developed methods to study the colonisation of potato roots by Pectobacterium atrosepticum to identify the route of transfer to the developing plant and how this is influenced by free-living nematodes.

With colleagues I investigated the localisation of effectors secreted by potato cyst nematodes into their host.

 

Past research

  • Using an in vivo staining method I investigated susceptible and resistant interactions between the pathogen Rhynchosporium secalis and barley.
  • With colleagues  I have investigated the role of TGB 1 movement protein in the movement of Potato mop top virus and the mechanism by which Tobacco mosaic virus– movement protein moves from its site of synthesis to the plasmodesmata.
  • Using the Arabidopsis root as a model system I also investigated the phloem mobility of fluorescent xenobiotics and examined the long distance movement of macromolecules with particular reference to their unloading from the phloem.

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J. (2006) The ER within plasmodesmata., In: Robinson, D.G. (ed.). The Plant Endoplasmic Reticulum. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, pp279-308.
  • Oparka, K.J.; Viola, R.; Wright, K.M.; Prior, D.A.M. (1992) Sugar transport and metabolism in potato tubers., In: Farrar, J.F., Gordon, A.J. & Pollock, G.J. (eds.). Carbon Partitioning Within and Between Organisms. BIOS Scientific Publishers, Oxford, pp91-114.
  • Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J. (1991) Sugar uptake and metabolism in sink and source potato tubers., In: Bonnemain, J.L., Delrot, S., Lucas, W.J. & Dainty, J. (eds.). Recent Advances in Phloem Transport and Assimilate Compartmentation. Quest Edition, Presses Academique, Nantes, pp258-264.

Technical / contract reports

  • Wright, K.M.; Wood, N.T.; MacKenzie, K.; Oparka, K.J. (2003) Studying plasmodesmatal targeting of TMV-MP using FRAP., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp97.
  • Wright, K.M.; Roberts, A.G.; Martens, H.J.; Sauer, N.; Oparka, K.J. (2002) Phloem development and function probed with a companion-cell marker., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp118-121.
  • Wright, K.M.; Santa, Cruz, S. (2000) Life at the edge – imaging the hypersensitive response induced by TMV., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1999/2000, pp136-139.
  • Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J. (1997) Predicting the phloem mobility of xenobiotics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1996/97, pp112-116.
  • Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J.; Prior, D.A.M. (1994) Uptake and compartmentation of xenobiotics in plant cells., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1994, pp84-88.
  • Oparka, K.J.; Wright, K.M.; Prior, D.A.M. (1990) The sink to source transition in potato tubers., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1990, pp36-40.

Conference papers

  • Kaczmarek, M.; Fountaine, J.M.; Havis, N.D.; Wright, K.M.; Newton, A.C.; Read, N.D. (2011) Microscopic study of a dynamic relationship between filamentous fungus Ramularia collo-cygni and its host plant Hordeum vulgare., Fourth International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, West Park Centre, Dundee, 27-29 June 2011.
  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Atkins, S.D.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Investigations of the asymptomatic phase of Rynchosporium secalis and Ramularia collo-cygni infection using GFP expressing variants., Fourth International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, 27-29 June 2011.
  • Wright, K.M.; Chapman, S.N.; Oparka, K.J. (2006) The effect of commonly used inhibitors on tobacco epidermal cell structure., Imaging Membrane Dynamics, Royal Holloway College, London, 14-17 September 2006.
  • Haupt, S.; Wright, K.M.; Cowan, G.H.; Boevink, P.; Gillespie, T.; Ziegler, A.; Roberts, A.G.; Chapman, S.N.; Oparka, K.J.; Torrance, L. (2005) Plant virus proteins traffic in the endomembrane system., Mini-Symposium on Improving the Plant Secretory System for Nutrition and Health, Grasmere, 23-26 May 2005.
  • Boevink, P.; Wright, K.M.; Chapman, S.N.; Oparka, K.J. (2005) Tools for protein tracking., Plant Sciences Seminar and Workshop; Applications for Fluorescence Microscopy, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, 11-15 April 2005.
  • Boevink, P.; Chapman, S.N.; Bell, K.; Jackson, K.; Wright, K.M.; Latijnhouwers, M.; Gillespie, T.; Oparka, K.J.; Roberts, A.G. (2005) Investigating protein location, motion and function in living plant cells., Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba, 27 November – 2 December 2005.
  • Boevink, P.; Wright, K.M.; Roberts, A.G.; Wood, N.; MacKenzie, K.; Oparka, K.J. (2005) Towards a new model for TMV movement., Plasmodesmata 2004, Monterey, California, USA, 17-21 August 2004.
  • Roberts, A.G.; Boevink, P.; Calcutt, J.; Chapman, S.N.; Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J. (2004) New fluorescent proteins light up plant intercellular communication., SEB Plant Frontiers – The Visible Cell Biosensors and Bioreceptors Session, Exeter 3-6 July 2004.
  • Wright, K.M.; Wood, N.T.; Roberts, A.G.; Boevink, P.; Gillespie, T.; MacKenzie, K.; Oparka, K.J. (2004) Plasmodesmal targeting of TMV movement protein utilises the ER/actin network., Plasmodesmata 2004, Monterey, California, USA, August 17-21 2004.
  • Wright, K.M. (2003) The function of Tobacco mosaic firus-movement protein investigated by FRAP., 31st Scottish Microscopy Group Symposium. Dundee, Scotland, 12 November 2003.
  • Wright, K.M.; Santa Cruz, S.; Oparka, K.J. (1999) Green fluorescent protein illuminates the hypersensitive response., Royal Microscopical Society 6th International Botanical Microscopy Meeting, University of St Andrews, 25-29 March 1999.
  • Oparka, K.J.; Wright, K.M.; Prior, D.A.M. (1989) Osmotic regulation of sucrose partitioning in potato tuber storage tissues., Proceedings of the 21st Colloquium of the International Potash Institute, Bern,19-21 June 1989, pp189-201.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Atkins, S.D.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Investigations of the asymptomatic phase of Rhynchosporium secalis and Ramularia collo-cygni infection using GFP expressing variants., Fourth International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, West Park Centre, Dundee, 27-29 June 2011. (Poster)
  • Kaczmarek, M.; Fountaine, J.M.; Havis, N.D.; Wright, K.M.; Newton, A.C.; Read, N.D. (2011) Microscopic study of a dynamic relationship between filamentous fungus Ramularia collo-cygni and its host plant Hordeum vulgare., Fourth International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, 27-29 June 2011 (Poster).
  • Ross, H.A.; Gordon, S.; McDougall, G.J.; Verrall, S.R.; Wright, K.M.; Cross, J.V.; Berrie, A.; Xu, X.; Brennan, R.M. (2011) Exploring variation in textural properties in blackcurrant germplasm., Xth International Rubus and Ribes Conference, Zlatibor, Serbia, 22-26 June 2011. (Poster)
  • Wright, K.M.; Cowan, G.H.; Lukhovitskaya, N.I.; Tilsner, J.; Roberts, A.G.; Savenkov, E.I.; Torrance, L. (2011) The role of Potato mop-top virus TGB1 movement protein in cell-cell and long-distance transport., Royal Microscopical Society Botanical Microscopy Meeting, 9th, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 16-21 April 2011 (Poster).
  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Illuminating fungal infections of barley., Royal Microscopical Society Botanical Microscopy Meeting, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 16-21 April 2011 (Poster).
  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Atkins, S.D.; Newton, A.C. (2010) Role of seed-borne infection in rhynchosporium and ramularia epidemics in barley., HGCA, PhD Symposium, University of Nottingham, 23 April 2010 (Talk & Poster).
  • Wright, K.M.; Cowan, G.H.; Lukhovitskaya, N.I.; Tilsner, J.; Roberts, A.G.; Savenkov, E.I.; Torrance, L. (2010) The coordinated action of potato mop-top virus triple gene block movement proteins in viral cell-to-cell transport., EMBO Workshop. Genomic Approaches to Interactions between Plant Viruses, their Hosts and their Vectors, Fenestrelle, Italy, 12-16 June 2010 (Poster).
  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Atkins, S.D.; Newton, A.C. (2009) Role of seed-borne infection in rhynchosporium and ramularia epidemics in barley., HGCA, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, May 2009 (Poster).
  • Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Atkins, S.D.; Newton, A.C. (2008) Role of seed-borne infection in rhynchosporium and ramularia epidemics in barley., HGCE, PhD Symposium, NIAB, Cambridge, 2 May 2008 (Talk & Poster).
  • Wright, K.M.; Chapman, S.N.; Oparka, K.J. (2006) What are you doing to me? The effect of commonly used inhibitors on tobacco epidermal cell structure., Plasmodesmata 2006, Pitlochry, Scotland, 30 July – 4 August 2006. (Poster)
  • Roberts, A.G.; Wright, K.M.; Wood, N.T.; Gillespie, T.; Boevink, P.; Haupt, S.; Oparka, K.J. (2003) Intercellular targeting of viral movement protein to plasmodesmata., Abstracts of the International Conference on Phloem Transport, University of Bayreuth, Germany, 31 August – 5 September 2003.
  • Wright, K.M.; Wood, N.T.; Gillespie, T.; Boevink, P.; Roberts, A.G.; Oparka, K.J. (2003) Intercellular viral movement protein targeting to plasmodesmata., Abstracts of the Seventh International Botanical Microscopy Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal, 12-17 April 2003.
  • Wright, K.M.; Roberts, A.G.; Martens, A.G.; Sauer, N.; Oparka, K.J. (2003) Structural and functional vein maturation in developing tobacco leaves in relation to ATSUC2 promoter activity., Abstracts of the Seventh International Botanical Microscopy Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal, 12-17 April 2003.
  • Wright, K.M.; Roberts, A.G.; Martens, A.G.; Sauer, N.; Oparka, K.J. (2003) The influence of light on the sink-to-source transition., Abstracts of the International Phloem Conference, Bayreuth, Germany, 31 August – 5 September 2003.
  • Lacomme, C.; Wright, K.M.; Duncan, G.; Santa Cruz, S.; (2001) Analysis of Bax-induced cell death and N-mediated hypersensitive response., Abstracts of the Scottish Plant Cell and Molecular Biology Group, Dundee, Scotland, 2001.
  • Wright, K.M.; Duncan, G.H.; Pradel, K.S.; Carr, F.; Wood, S.; Oparka, K.J.; Santa Cruz, S. (2001) The hypersensitive response; or how some plant can defend themselves against the attack of certain viruses., 29th Scottish Microscopy Symposium, Glasgow, 14 November 2001. (Abstract).
  • Lacomme, C.; Wright, K.M.; Duncan, G.H.; Santa Cruz, S. (2001) Analysis of Bax-induced cell death and N-mediated hypersensitive response., Abstracts of the Vith International Symposium on Positive Strand RNA Viruses, Paris, France, 28 May – 6 June 2001. STS06.
  • Boevink, P.; Lacomme, C.; Wright, K.M.; Hawes, C.L.; Santa Cruz, S.; Oparka, K.J. (1999) GFP and plant-virus vectors as tools for elucidating protein localisation and function., Abstracts of Molecular Biology and Fungal Pathogens, Gregynog, Wales, July 1999.
  • Santa Cruz, S.; Roberts, A.G.; Wright, K.M.; Duncan, G.H.; Roberts, I.M.; Prior, D.A.M.; Oparka, K.J. (1998) Unravelling the PVX cell-to-cell movement process., Abstracts of The Instituto Juan March Workshop on Plasmodesmata and the Transport of Plant Viruses and Plant Macromolecules. Madrid, Spain, 42.
  • Wright, K.M.; Oparka, K.J. (1995) Phloem as a delivery system for fluorescent probes., 23rd Scottish Microscopy Symposium, Edinburgh (Abstract).

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