Skip to navigation Skip to content

Eleanor Gilroy

Staff picture: Eleanor Gilroy
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Molecular Plant Pathologist
eleanor.gilroy@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Invergowrie
Dundee DD2 5DA
Scotland UK

 

Current research interests

  • Investigating the virulence function of Avr2
  • Exploring crosstalk between development and plant disease resistance
  • Dissecting the role of light signalling in plant immunity
  • Phytophthora rubi: Insight into root rot of Raspberry

Investigating the virulence function of Avr2 and host targets in the Brassinosteroid (BR) Pathway

The PiAVR2 effector from Phytophthora infestans is known to be recognised by at least ten members of the largest family of NB-LRR genes in potato, known as the R2 family and unrelated NB-LRRs from another locus. All P. infestans isolates examined thus far either possess PiAvr2 or a diverged form of PiAVR2, known as Avr2-like. Avr2-like has been amplified from isolates of P. infestans that can grow on R2 containing potatoes, and have shown to evade recognition by many R2 family members.  No natural resistances have been identified thus far that recognise Avr2-like, providing a huge opportunity to engineer resistance to P. infestans using synthetic biology or CRISPR/CAS9 techniques. Initially, we found one ser/thr phosphatase, BSU1-like 1 (BSL1), to be essential for R2 function (Saunders et al., 2012).  Our discovery that R2 recognition of Avr2 is lost after silencing of target BSL1 is the first demonstration that a host effector target is necessary for the hypersensitive response in the potato-P. infestans system. The next obvious question is what manipulation of the host by PiAVR2 are the R2 family of NB-LRR detecting?

In addition, we have been investigating the virulence function of PiAvr2 and belief it activates the BR pathway to upregulate particular transcription factors that act as negative regulators of the early response to PAMPs in plants, known as PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI).

We also have been gathering evidence that PiAVR2 interacts with other Solanum tuberosum family members of this unique kelch-repeat containing phosphatase family (BSU1-like). Most functional characterisation of role of the BSL phosphatases in the BR pathway has been performed on BSU1 in the model plant, Arabidopsis. A recent key observation found BSU1 to be specific to the Brassicaceae family of plants which P. infestans cannot infect.  We believe examination of the role of the BSL family in the absence of BSU1 is important to understand the function of the BR pathway, its crosstalk with PTI and how the mechanism by which it is guarded by the R2 family.  This is subject of current investigations in the lab.

Dissecting the role of light signalling in plant immunity

Light is essential for regulating every aspect of plant growth and development. Recent studies have revealed that light quality and duration can influence plant immune response onset as well as the virulence of some pathogens. We have evidence that some RxLR effectors from P. infestans manipulate light signalling pathways by interacting with host targets that putatively play roles in signalling responses to both blue and red light.

I am currently investigating the role of light quality, intensity and duration on plant defense pathways by using P. infestans effectors as tools to highlight signalling pathways targeted for manipulation.

Phytophthora rubi: Insight into root rot of Raspberry

At least 90 species of Phytophthora have been isolated from a wide range of horticultural crop plants worldwide and improvements in molecular diagnostics are continually identifying more. Although several species of Phytophthora can infect raspberry (P. syringae, P. drechsleri, P. cactorum, P. cambivora and P. megasperma), P. rubi is the causal agent of the devastating root rot and cane death disease in raspberry.  P. rubibelongs to clade 7 of the Phytophthora (“plant destroyer”) phylogeny along with other root rot causing Phytophthoras of warmer climates such as P. cinnamomi and P. sojae.

Raspberry root rot disease, first identified in Europe in the 1980s, is now a widespread contaminant of established raspberry plantations and the disease, once established is extremely difficult to control. The major impact of root rot disease is causing a rapid decline in raspberry plantations grown in soil by more than 70%. Farmers worldwide are being driven to switch to annual replenishment of pot-based systems or adapting to growing alternative fruit crops. Europe is the largest producer of raspberries worldwide and the industry (worth est. €2.2 billion) is being devastated by root rot disease. See Raspberry genetics for more information.

Understanding how organisms distinguish friend from foe is one of the key and fascinating questions in biology. I am currently building a team to investigate the population genomics of P. rubi, determine its pathogenicity arsenal and better understand the enigmatic relationship between root infecting oomycetes and the host rhizosphere. Visit the following pages for more information: Julie Graham, Craig Simpson, Ingo Hein and Steve Whisson.

Past research

Genomia Fund (2013-2016) with Industrial Support

  • Activating and guarding the Brassinosteroid pathway as a novel means to protect plants against disease.

The James Hutton Institute Seed Corn Fund  (2012-2014) “Exploiting the potato genome sequence to understand the interface between plant development and abiotic/biotic stress responses”

Bibliography

  • Feechan, A.; Turnbull, D.; Stevens, L.J.; Engelhardt, S.; Birch, P.R.J.; Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M. (2015) The hypersensitive response in PAMP- and effector-triggered immune responses., In: Gunawardena, A. & McCabe, P. (eds.). Plant Programmed Cell Death. Springer, New York, Chapter 10, pp235-258.
  • Toth, I.K.; Moleleki, L.N.; Pritchard, L.; Liu, H.; Humphris, S.N.; Hyman, L.; Axelsen, G.W.; Brurberg, M.B.; Ravensdale, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Erwiniae: genomics and the secret life of a plant pathogen., In: Bailey, M.J., Lilley, A.K., Timms-Wilson, T.M. & Spencer-Phillips, P.T.N. (eds.). Microbial Ecology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp191-201.

  • Hrubikova, K.; Gilroy, E.M.; Faivre-Rampant, O.; Loake, G.; Birch, P.R.J.; Taylor, M.A.; Lacomme, C. (2003) Viral induced gene silencing in crop species., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp98-99.

  • Chen, X.; Bayer, M.; Harrower, B.; Stevens, L.; Chapman, S.; Gilroy, E.; van Weymers, P.; Jupe, F.; Witek, K.; Jones, J.; Birch, P.; Bryan, G.; Hein, I. (2014) Using the potato genome to map and clone durable resistance genes more rapidly., Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Environmental Management and Crop Protection, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 25-26 February 2014.
  • Turnbull, D.; Breen, S.A.; Naqvi, S.; Armstrong, M.R.; Engelhardt, S.; Brunner, F.; Birch, P.R.J.; Gilroy, E.M. (2014) Phytophthora infestans effector PiAVR2 targets StBSL1 to activate the Brassinosteriod pathway., XVI International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 2014, Rhodes, Greece, 6-10 July 2014.
  • Turnbull, D.; Breen, S.A.; Naqvi, S.; Yang, L.; Murphy, F.S.; Armstrong, M.R.; Engelhardt, S.; Welsh, L.; Hein, I.; Zhan, J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Gilroy, E.M. (2014) Pumped up on (brassino) steroids: multiple Phytophthora infestans effectors manipulate the Brassinosteroid pathway in potato., FESPB/EPSO 2014 Congress, The Convention Centre, Dublin, 22-26 June 2014.
  • Whisson, S.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Avrova, A.O.; Tian, Z.D.; Breen, S.; Armstrong MR.; Squires, J.; Vieeshouwers, V.; McLellan, H.; Seman, Z.; Kandel, K.; Boevink, P.C.; Pritchard, L.; Hein, I.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Birch, P.R.J.; (2011) Phytophthora infestans effectors in late blight disease development and exploitation for disease control., 18th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, Oulu, Finland, 24-29 July 2011.
  • Toth, I.K.; Birch, P.R.J.; Pritchard, L.; Liu, H.; Hedley, P.E.; Humphris, S.; Douglas, E.; Gilroy, E.M.; Moleleki, L.N.; Ravensdale, M.; Hardy, D.; Mayer, C.; Husmeier, D.; Lin, K. (2010) From bully to master tactician: a genomics approach reveals unexpected traits in the life of the bacterial plant pathogen Pectobacterium., IFR Seminar Series. Institute of Food Research, 4 March 2010.
  • Toth, I.K.; Birch, P.R.J.; Pritchard, L.; Humphris, S.N.; Douglas, E.; Gilroy, E.M.; Morris, J.; Hedley, P.E. (2010) Using genomics approaches to investigate the life of the bacterial potato pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum., COST 872 Nemagenics. Exploiting genomics to understand plant-nematode interactions, 4th Annual Meeting. Lisbon, Portugal, 24-27 May 2010.
  • Jantsch, C.; Chen, Y.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J.; Brunner, F. (2010) Identification of Phytophthora infestans RXLR-(EER) effectors suppressing PAMP-triggered immunity., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • McLellan, H.; Tian, Z.D.; Avrova, A.O.; Gilroy, E.M.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Identification of RXLR effectors essential for virulence in Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Breen, S.; Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Morales, J.G.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; McLellan, H.; Randall, E.; Tian, Z.D.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; Lokossou, A.A.; Govers, F.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Brunner, F.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Avr2, an RXLR effector from Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Armstrong, M.R.; Boevink, P.; Bukharova, T.; McLellan, H.; Ramos, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Beynon, J.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Identifying candidate host 'targets' of Phytophthora infestans translocated RXLR proteins., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Engelhardt, S.; Armstrong, M.R.; Boevink, P.; Ramos, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) R3a-mediated recognition of AVR3a: Cell biological and biochemical characterisation., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; McLellan, H.; Breen, S.; Engelhardt, S.; Tian, Z.D.; Seman, Z.A.; Pritchard, L.; Armstrong, M.R.; Randall, E.; Avrova, A.O.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; van West, P.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Using knowledge of RXLR effectors to seek durable resistance., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Hein, I.; Tian, Z.D.; Armstrong, M.R.; Douglas, E.; Lokossou, A.A.; Boevink, P.; McLellan, H.; Randall, E.; Morales, J.G.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Amino acid polymorphisms upstream of the RXLR motif in Phytophthora infestans effector Avr2 condition R gene recognition., The Fungal Cell, British Mycological Society Meeting, Westpark Conference Centre, Dundee, 1-4 September 2009.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Bos, J.; Taylor, R.; Morales, J.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Breen, S.; van West, P.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Functional analysis of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors Avr2 and Avr3a., Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA, 17-22 March 2009.
  • Wawra, S.; Phillips, A.J.; Minor, K.; Grouffaud, S.; Bain, J.; Gilroy, E.M.; Robertson, E.J.; Anderson, V.L.; Bruce, C.R.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Homer, N.R.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Porter, A.J.; Secombes, C.J.; van West, P. (2009) Unravelling the mechanism of RXLR mediated translocation of oomycete effector proteins., Fungal Genetics Conference. Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA, 17-22 March 2009.
  • Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M.; Whisson, S.C.; Pritchard, L.; Bryan, G.J.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Exploiting the Phytophthora infestans genome to determine targets for sustainable potato protection., XIV MPMI Conference, Montreal, Canada, 19-23 July 2009.
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Bos, J.; Taylor, R.M.; Morales, J.G.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; Breen, S.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S. (2009) Localisation and function of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors and their host targets., XIV MPMI Conference, Montreal, Canada, 19-23 July 2009.
  • Boevink, P.; Ramos, M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Allen, R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Donovan, S.; Rehmany, A.; Beynon, J.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Evolutionarily distinct RXLR effectors from distantly related oomycetes target the plant exocyst., 14th International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec, Canada, 19-23 July 2009.
  • Toth, I.K.; Birch, P.R.J.; Pritchard, L.; Moleleki, L.N.; Ravensdale, M.; Robert, C.; Liu, H.; Humphris, S.N.; Hedley, P.E.; Gilroy, E.M. (2008) What will a genome sequence do for fire blight research? Pectobacterium atrosepticum and potato - a case study., 11th International Workshop on Fire Blight, Portland, Oregon, 12-17 August 2007.
  • McLellan, H.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Boevink, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Loake, G. (2007) The roles of cathespin B-like proteases in plant disease resistance., XIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy, 22-26 July 2007.
  • Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.; Moleleki, L.N.; Avrova, A.O.; Morales, J.G.; Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2007) A translocation signal for delivery of oomycete effector proteins into host plant cells., XIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy, 22-26 July 2007.
  • Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Gene signalling in the Phytophthora infestans-potato interaction., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network, Wageningen, 4-7 May 2006.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Venter, E.; McLellan, H.; Hein, I.; Hrubikova, K.; Holeva, M.C.; Boevink, P.; Loake, G.J.; Lacomme, C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Inducible disease resistance involves an apoplastic cysteine protease Cathepsin B., Proceedings of IOBC/wprs Joint Working Group Meeting: Breeding for Inducible Resistance against Pests and Diseases, Heraklion, Crete, 27-29 April 2006.
  • Toth, I.K.; Hyman, L.J.; Moleleki, L.N.; Ravensdale, M.; Robert, C.; Liu, H.; Humphris, S.N.; Hedley, P.E.; Gilroy, E.M.; Pritchard, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) What has genomics ever done for us? A study of Erwinia and blackleg disease., Proceedings of Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28 February - 1 March 2006, 239-242.
  • Venter, E.; Gilroy, E.M.; Avrova, A.O.; Kamoun, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2004) Functional screening of Phytophthora infestans protease inhibitors in potato., Molecular Biology of Fungal Pathogens XV, University of Wales, 13 (Talk).
  • Rokka, V.; Avrova, A.O.; Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M.; Cardle, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2002) Unravelling signalling processes in the potato R gene resistance response to Phytophthora infestans., GILB GILB'02 conference - Late Blight: Managing the Global Threat, Hamburg, Germany, 11-13 July 2002, 152.

  • Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.; Hornyik, C.; Bryan, G.; Milne, I.; Toth, I.K.; Ducreux, L.; Torrance, L.; Milne, L.; Cock, P.; Pritchard, L.; Sharma, K.; MacFarlane, S.; Zhang, R.; Hedley, P.; Jones, J.; Birch, P.; Taylor, M.; Dale, F.; McNaughton, I.; Wright, J.; Prashar, A.; Blok, V.; Carnegie, P.; Chapman, S. (2013) Utilising the potato genome., Potatoes in Practice 2013, Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, Dundee, 8 August 2013.
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C. (2012) Effectors from the potato late blight pathogen: their roles in suppressing or triggering the plant immune system., EPS Autumn-school, Wageningen, 6 March 2012.
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Pritchard, L.; Randall, E.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Effectors from the potato late blight pathogen: their roles in suppressing or triggering the plant immune system., British Mycological Society Meeting, Exeter, September 2011.
  • Boevink, P.; Bukharova, T.; McLellan, H.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Imaging plant-pathogen interactions: Phytophthora infestans RXLR effector localisation in planta., 9th International Mycological Congress,The Biology of Fungi, Edinburgh, 1-6 August 2010 (Poster).
  • Hein, I.; Whisson, S.C.; Armstrong, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Avrova, A.O.; Tian, Z.; Chapman, S.N.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bryan, G.J. (2010) Identifying key Phytophthora infestans effectors as targets for more durable late blight resistance., 7th Solanaceae Conference 2010, Dundee, 5-9 September 2010, 155 (Poster).
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Morales, J.G.; Lokossou, A.A.; Ramos, B.; Armstrong, M.R.; Hein, I.; Boevink, P.; Pritchard, L.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Cloning and functional analysis of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effector, Avr2., 22nd New Phytologist Symposium on Effectors in Plant-Microbe Interactions, INRA Versailles Research Centre, Paris, France, 13-16 September 2009 (Poster).
  • Blok, V.C.; Phillips, M.S.; Booth, A.; Smith, A.; Holt, A.; Gilroy, E.M.; Jones, J.T. (2007) Chorismate mutases of Globodera pallida: genetic and functional characterisation., XIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy, 22-26 July 2007 (Abstract).
  • Lacomme, C.; Faivre-Rampant, O.; Gilroy, E.M.; Valentine, T.A.; Shaw, J.; Hrubikova, K.; Blok, V.C.; Hein, I.; Haupt, S.; Loake, G.; Birch, P.R.J.; Taylor, M.A.; Oparka, K.J. (2004) Virus-induced gene silencing vector development for functional studies in Solanaceae., 1st Solanaceae Genome Workshop. Wageningen, The Netherlands, 19-21 September 2004 (Abstract).

Printed from /staff/eleanor-gilroy on 02/10/23 09:09:19 AM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.