Stephen Whisson
Current research interests
- A major focus of my research at The James Hutton Institute is the discovery and functional characterisation of P. infestans genes required for pathogenicity and avirulence on the host plant potato, through an integrated genomics approach. Genes found to be crucial for the successful infection of potato are clearly potential targets for future late blight, and broader oomycete, control strategies.
- Active areas of research in the Phytophthora genomics lab include: effector/avirulence gene discovery and characterisation, screening for candidate pathogenicity factors using transient gene silencing (RNA interference), characterisation of RXLR-EER-mediated effector protein translocation into host plant cells, and cell biology of P. infestans/plant interactions using pathogen::fluorescent proteins fusions.
Past research
- My PhD research characterised the genetics of avirulence in the soybean root rot pathogen Phytophthora sojae, the genome of which has now been sequenced.
- I joined SCRI as a postdoc in 1999 on a project based around the creation of genomics capabilities for P. infestans at SCRI, including constructing a large insert bacterial chromosome library, physical mapping of selected genomic regions, and targeted gene discovery using cDNA-AFLP and suppression subtractive hybridisation.
- In 2002 I was awarded the first SEERAD Senior Research Fellowship to work on an integrated genomics strategy for P. infestans, and identify genes involved in the interaction with its host potato.
- Although much previous research has been heavily biased towards genetic markers, genomics studies, and gene discovery, recent research has been driven by the need to determine the function of novel oomycete genes in the P. infestans / potato interaction.
Key collaborators
Within The James Hutton Institute:
Outside The James Hutton Institute:
- Pieter van West (University of Aberdeen, UK)
- Jim Beynon (Warwick-HRI, UK)
- Sophien Kamoun (Ohio State University, USA)
- Chad Nusbaum (Broad Institute, USA).
Bibliography
- Wang, S.; McLellan, H.; Bukharova, T.; He, Q.; Murphy, F.; Shi, J.; Sun, S.; van Weymers, P.; Ren, Y.; Thilliez, G.; Wang, H.; Chen, X.; Engelhardt, S.; Vleeshouwers, V.; Gilroy, E.M.; Whisson, S.W.; Hein, I.; Wang, X.; Tian, Z.; Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C. (2019) Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors act in concert at diverse subcellular localisations to enhance host colonisation., Journal of Experimental Botany, 70, 343-356.
- Wang, S.M.; Welsh, L.; Thorpe, P.; Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2018) The Phytophthora infestans haustorium is a site for secretion of diverse classes of infection-associated proteins., MBIO, 9, Article No. e01216-18.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Tripathy, S.; Malar, M.C.; Panda, A.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Chawade, A.; Andreasson, E.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2018) Draft genome sequence for the tree pathogen Phytophthora plurivora., Genome Biology and Evolution, 10, 2432-2442.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Kushwaha, S.; Sen, D.; Whisson, S.C.; Lamour, K.H.; Grenville-Briggs, L. (2018) Genome sequence resource for the oomycete taro pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 31, 903-905.
- Wang, S.; Boevink, P.C.; Welsh, L.; Zhang, R.F.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2017) Delivery of cytoplasmic and apoplastic effectors from Phytophthora infestans haustoria by distinct secretion pathways., New Phytologist, 216, 205-215.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Cleary, M.R.; Witzell, J.; Savenkov, E.I.; Whisson, S.C.; Chawade, A.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2017) Draft genome of the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora cactorum strain LV007 isolated from European beech (Fagus sylvatica)., Genomics Data, 12, 155-156.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Whisson, S.C.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J. (2017) Phytophthora infestans effector Pi14054 is a novel candidate suppressor of host silencing mechanisms., European Journal of Plant Pathology, 149, 771-777.
- Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.C.; Wang, S.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2016) The cell biology of late blight disease., Current Opinion in Microbiology, 34, 127-135.
- Whisson, S.C. (2016) Strategies, resources and tools to identify targets for new disease control chemicals for oomycete plant pathogens., In: Chowdappa, P., Sharma, D. Singh, A. & Misra, A.K. (eds.). Perspectives of Plant Pathology in Genomic Era. New Delhi, India, Today and Tomorrow Publishers, Chapter 13, pp271-292. ISBN 1-55528-382-9 (USA).
- Randall, E.; Young, V.; Sierotzki, H.; Scalliet, G.; Birch, P.R.J.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Csukai, M.; Whisson, S.C. (2014) Sequence diversity in the large subunit of RNA polymerase I contributes to Mefenoxam insensitivity in Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 15, 664-676.
- Asman, A.K.M.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Jahan, S.N.; Fogelqvist, J.; Corcoran, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2014) Fragmentation of tRNA in Phytophthora infestans asexual life cycle stages and during host plant infection., BMC Microbiology, 14, Article No. 308.
- McLellan, H.; Boevink, P.C.; Armstrong, M.R.; Pritchard, L.; Gomez, S.; Morales, J.; Whisson, S.C.; Beynon, J.L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2013) An RxLR effector from Phytophthora infestans prevents re-localisation of two plant NAC transcription factors from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus., PLoS Pathogens, 9, Article No. e1003670.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Asman, A.K.M.; Jahan, S.N.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2013) Phenotypic diversification by gene silencing in Phytophthora plant pathogens., Communicative and Integrative Biology, 6, Article No. e25890.
- Whisson, S.C.; Vetukuri R.; Avrova, A.O.; Dixelius, C. (2012) Can silencing of transposons contribute to variation in effector gene expression in Phytophthora infestans?, Mobile Genetic Elements, 2, 110-114.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Asman, A.K.M.; Tellgren-Roth, C.; Jahan, S.N.; Reimegard, J.; Fogelqvist, J.; Savenkov, E.; Soderbom, F.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2012) Evidence for small RNAs homologous to effector-encoding genes and transposable elements in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e51399.
- Wawra, S.; Bain, J.; Durward, E.; de Bruijn, I.; Minor, K.L.; Matena, A.; Lobach, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Bayer, P.; Porter, A.J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Secombes, C.J.; van West, P. (2012) Host-targeting protein 1 (SpHtp1) from the oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica translocates specifically into fish cells in a tyrosine-O-sulphate-dependent manner., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 109, 2096-2101.
- Wawra, S.; Agacan, M.; Boddey, J.A.; Davidson, I.; Gachon, C.M.M.; Zanda, M.; Grouffaud, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Porter, A.J.; van West, P. (2012) Avirulence protein 3a (AVR3a) from the potato pathogen Phytophthora infestans forms homodimers through its predicted translocation region and does not specifically bind phospholipids., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287, 38101-38109.
- Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Boevink, P.C.; Armstrong, M.R.; Seman, Z.A.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J. (2011) Exploiting knowledge of pathogen effectors to enhance late blight resistance in potato., Potato Research, 54, 325-340.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Avrova, A.O.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Soderbom, F.; Savenkov, E.I.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2011) Evidence for involvement of Dicer-like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase proteins in gene silencing in Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 12, 772-785.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Tian, Z.D.; Avrova, A.O.; Savenkov, E.I.; Dixelius, C.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Silencing of the PiAtvr3a effector-encoding gene from Phytophthora infestans by transcriptional fusion to a short interspersed element., Fungal Biology, 115, 1225-1233.
- Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Squires, J.; Hein, I.; Kaczmarek, M.; Turnbull, D.; Boevink, P.; Lokossou, A.; Cano, L.M.; Morales, J.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; Randall, E.; Lees, A.K.; Govers, F.; van West, P.; Kamoun, S.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2011) Presence/absence, differential expression and sequence polmorphisms between PiAVR2 and PiAVR2-like in Phytophthora infestans determine virulence on R2 plants., New Phytologist, 191, 763-776.
- Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni with fluorescent marker tags and live tissue imaging of infection development., Plant Pathology, 60, 929-937.
- Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Atkins, S.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Infection of Rrs1 barley by an incompatible race of the fungus, Rhynchosporium secalis, expressing the green fluorescent protein., Plant Pathology, 60, 513-521.
- Boevink, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Imaging fluorescently tagged Phytophthora effector proteins inside infected plant tissue., In: McDowell, J.M. (ed.). Methods in Molecular Biology Plant Immunity: Methods and Protocols. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, USA, Chapter 712, pp195-209.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Hay, R.J.; Bruce, C.R.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P. (2010) Identification of appressorial and mycelial cell wall proteins and a survey of the membrane proteome of Phytophthora infestans., Fungal Biology, 114, 702-723.
- Bos, J.I.B.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Boevink, P.; Hein, I.; Taylor, R.M.; Tian, Z.D.; Engelhardt, S.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Harrower, B.E.; Dixelius, C.; Bryan, G.J.; Sadanandom, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Kamoun, S.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Phytophthora infestans effector AVR3a is essential for virulence and manipulates plant immunity by stabilizing host E3 ligase CMPG1., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 107, 9909-9914.
- Blum, M.; Boehler, M.; Randall, E.; Young, V.; Csukai, M.; Kraus, S.; Moulin, F.; Scalliet, G.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Fonne-Pfister, R. (2010) Mandipropamid targets the cellulose synthase-like PiCesA3 to inhibit cell wall biosynthesis in the oomycete plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 11, 227-243
- Grouffaud, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; van West, P. (2010) Towards an understanding of how RxLR-effector proteins are translocated from oomycetes into host cells., Fungal Genetics Reviews, 24, 27-36.
- Whisson, S.C. (2010) Phytophthora., In: Roberts, K. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Life Science. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK,
- Basnayake, S.; Maclean, D.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Drenth, A. (2009) Identification and occurrence of the LTR-Copia-like retrotransposon, PSCR and other Copia-like elements in the genome of Phytophthora sojae., Current Genetics, 55, 521-536.
- Bollmann, S.R.; Bos, J.I.B.; Bulone, V.; Cai, G.H.; Cakir, C.; Carrington, J.C.; Chawner, M.; Conti, L; Costanzo, S.; Ewan, R.; Fahlgren, N.; Fischbach, M.A.; Fugelstad, J.; Gilroy, E.M.; Gnerre, S.; Green, P.J.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Griffith, J.; Grunwald, N.J.; Horn, K.; Horner, N.R.; Hu, C.H.; Huitema, E.; Jeong, D.H.; Jones, A.M.E.; Jones, J.D.G.; Jones, R.W.; Karlsson, E.K.; Kunjeti, S.G.; Lamour, K.; Liu, Z.Y.; Ma, L.J.; MacLean, D.; Chibucos, M.C.; McDonald, H.; McWalters, J.; Meijer, H.J.G.; Morgan, W.; Morris, P.F.; Munro, C.A.; O'Neill, K.; Ospina-Giraldo, M.; Pinzon, A.; Pritchard, L.; Ramsahoye, B.; Ren, Q.H.; Restrepo, S.; Roy, S.; Sadanandom, A.; Savidor, A.; Schornack, S.; Schwartz, D.C.; Schumann, U.D.; Schwessinger, B.; Seyer, L.; Sharpe, T.; Silvar, C.; Song, J.; Studholme, D.J.; Sykes, S.; Thines, M.; van de Vondervoort, P.J.I.; Phuntumart, V.; Wawra, S.; Weide, R.; Win, J.; Young, C.; Zhou, S.G.; Fry, W.; Meyers, B.C.; van West, P.; Ristaino, J.; Govers, F.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Judelson, H.S.; Nusbaum, C. (2009) Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Nature, 461, 393-398.
- Lokossou, A.A.; Park, T.H.; van Arkel, G.; Arens, M.; Ruyter-Spira, C.; Morales, J.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Visser, R.G.F.; Jacobsen, E.; van der Vossen, E.A.G. (2009) Exploiting knowledge of R/Avr genes to rapidly clone a new LZ-NBS-LRR family of late blight resistance genes from potato linkage group IV., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 22, 630-641.
- Birch, P.R.J.; Armstrong, M.R.; Bos, J.; Boevink, P.; Gilroy, E.M.; Taylor, R.M.; Wawra, S.; Pritchard, L.; Conti, L.; Ewan, R.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S. (2009) Towards understanding the virulence functions of RXLR effectors of the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Journal of Experimental Botany, 60, 1133-1140.
- Whisson, S.C.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Avrova, A.O. (2009) Mechanism and application of gene silencing in oomycetes., In: Lamour, K.H. & Kamoun, S. (eds.). Oomycete Genetics and Genomics: Diversity, Interactions and Research Tools. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, Chapter 25, 493-515.
- Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Pritchard, L.; Grouffaud, S.; Sandanandom, A.; Taylor, R.; Kamoun, S.; Bos, J.I. (2008) Translocated oomycete effectors that target the plant immune system., Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 150, S176-S177.
- van Poppel, P.M.J.A.; Guo, J.; van de Vondervoort, PJ.I.; Jung, M.W.M.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Govers, F. (2008) The Phytophthora infestans avirulence gene Avr4 encodes an RXLR-dEER effector., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 21, 1460-1470.
- Avrova, A.O.; Boevink, P.; Young, V.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2008) A novel Phytophthora infestans haustorium-specific membrane protein is required for infection of potato., Cellular Microbiology, 10, 2271-2284.
- Walker, C.A.; Koppe, M.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Horner, N.R.; McKinnon, A.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. ; van West, P. (2008) A putative DEAD-box RNA-helicase is required for normal zoospore development in the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Fungal Genetics and Biology, 45,954-962.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Anderson, V.L.; Fugelstad, J.; Avrova, A.O.; Bouzenzana, J.; Williams, A.; Wawra, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bulone, V.; van West, P. (2008) Cellulose synthesis in Phytophthora infestans is required for normal appressorium formation and successful infection of potato., Plant Cell, 20, 720-738.
- Judelson, H.S.; Ah-Fong, A.M.V.; Aux, G.; Avrova, A.O.; Bruce, C.R.; Cakir, C.; da Cunha, L.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Latijnhouwers, M.; Ligterink, W.; Meijer, HJ.G.; Roberts, S.; Thurber, C.S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Govers, F.; Kamoun, S.; van West, P.; Windass, J. (2008) Gene expression profiling during asexual development of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans reveals a highly dynamic transcriptome., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 21, 433-437.
- Wang, S.; McLellan, H.; Bukharova, T.; He, Q.; Murphy, F.; Shi, J.; Sun, S.; van Weymers, P.; Ren, Y.; Thilliez, G.; Wang, H.; Chen, X.; Engelhardt, S.; Vleeshouwers, V.; Gilroy, E.M.; Whisson, S.W.; Hein, I.; Wang, X.; Tian, Z.; Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C. (2019) Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors act in concert at diverse subcellular localisations to enhance host colonisation., Journal of Experimental Botany, 70, 343-356.
- Wang, S.M.; Welsh, L.; Thorpe, P.; Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2018) The Phytophthora infestans haustorium is a site for secretion of diverse classes of infection-associated proteins., MBIO, 9, Article No. e01216-18.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Tripathy, S.; Malar, M.C.; Panda, A.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Chawade, A.; Andreasson, E.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2018) Draft genome sequence for the tree pathogen Phytophthora plurivora., Genome Biology and Evolution, 10, 2432-2442.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Kushwaha, S.; Sen, D.; Whisson, S.C.; Lamour, K.H.; Grenville-Briggs, L. (2018) Genome sequence resource for the oomycete taro pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 31, 903-905.
- Wang, S.; Boevink, P.C.; Welsh, L.; Zhang, R.F.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2017) Delivery of cytoplasmic and apoplastic effectors from Phytophthora infestans haustoria by distinct secretion pathways., New Phytologist, 216, 205-215.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Cleary, M.R.; Witzell, J.; Savenkov, E.I.; Whisson, S.C.; Chawade, A.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2017) Draft genome of the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora cactorum strain LV007 isolated from European beech (Fagus sylvatica)., Genomics Data, 12, 155-156.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Whisson, S.C.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J. (2017) Phytophthora infestans effector Pi14054 is a novel candidate suppressor of host silencing mechanisms., European Journal of Plant Pathology, 149, 771-777.
- Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.C.; Wang, S.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2016) The cell biology of late blight disease., Current Opinion in Microbiology, 34, 127-135.
- Randall, E.; Young, V.; Sierotzki, H.; Scalliet, G.; Birch, P.R.J.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Csukai, M.; Whisson, S.C. (2014) Sequence diversity in the large subunit of RNA polymerase I contributes to Mefenoxam insensitivity in Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 15, 664-676.
- Asman, A.K.M.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Jahan, S.N.; Fogelqvist, J.; Corcoran, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2014) Fragmentation of tRNA in Phytophthora infestans asexual life cycle stages and during host plant infection., BMC Microbiology, 14, Article No. 308.
- McLellan, H.; Boevink, P.C.; Armstrong, M.R.; Pritchard, L.; Gomez, S.; Morales, J.; Whisson, S.C.; Beynon, J.L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2013) An RxLR effector from Phytophthora infestans prevents re-localisation of two plant NAC transcription factors from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus., PLoS Pathogens, 9, Article No. e1003670.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Asman, A.K.M.; Jahan, S.N.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2013) Phenotypic diversification by gene silencing in Phytophthora plant pathogens., Communicative and Integrative Biology, 6, Article No. e25890.
- Whisson, S.C.; Vetukuri R.; Avrova, A.O.; Dixelius, C. (2012) Can silencing of transposons contribute to variation in effector gene expression in Phytophthora infestans?, Mobile Genetic Elements, 2, 110-114.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Asman, A.K.M.; Tellgren-Roth, C.; Jahan, S.N.; Reimegard, J.; Fogelqvist, J.; Savenkov, E.; Soderbom, F.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2012) Evidence for small RNAs homologous to effector-encoding genes and transposable elements in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e51399.
- Wawra, S.; Bain, J.; Durward, E.; de Bruijn, I.; Minor, K.L.; Matena, A.; Lobach, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Bayer, P.; Porter, A.J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Secombes, C.J.; van West, P. (2012) Host-targeting protein 1 (SpHtp1) from the oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica translocates specifically into fish cells in a tyrosine-O-sulphate-dependent manner., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 109, 2096-2101.
- Wawra, S.; Agacan, M.; Boddey, J.A.; Davidson, I.; Gachon, C.M.M.; Zanda, M.; Grouffaud, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Porter, A.J.; van West, P. (2012) Avirulence protein 3a (AVR3a) from the potato pathogen Phytophthora infestans forms homodimers through its predicted translocation region and does not specifically bind phospholipids., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287, 38101-38109.
- Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Boevink, P.C.; Armstrong, M.R.; Seman, Z.A.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J. (2011) Exploiting knowledge of pathogen effectors to enhance late blight resistance in potato., Potato Research, 54, 325-340.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Avrova, A.O.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Soderbom, F.; Savenkov, E.I.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2011) Evidence for involvement of Dicer-like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase proteins in gene silencing in Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 12, 772-785.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Tian, Z.D.; Avrova, A.O.; Savenkov, E.I.; Dixelius, C.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Silencing of the PiAtvr3a effector-encoding gene from Phytophthora infestans by transcriptional fusion to a short interspersed element., Fungal Biology, 115, 1225-1233.
- Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Squires, J.; Hein, I.; Kaczmarek, M.; Turnbull, D.; Boevink, P.; Lokossou, A.; Cano, L.M.; Morales, J.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; Randall, E.; Lees, A.K.; Govers, F.; van West, P.; Kamoun, S.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2011) Presence/absence, differential expression and sequence polmorphisms between PiAVR2 and PiAVR2-like in Phytophthora infestans determine virulence on R2 plants., New Phytologist, 191, 763-776.
- Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Havis, N.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni with fluorescent marker tags and live tissue imaging of infection development., Plant Pathology, 60, 929-937.
- Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Wright, K.M.; Atkins, S.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Infection of Rrs1 barley by an incompatible race of the fungus, Rhynchosporium secalis, expressing the green fluorescent protein., Plant Pathology, 60, 513-521.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Hay, R.J.; Bruce, C.R.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P. (2010) Identification of appressorial and mycelial cell wall proteins and a survey of the membrane proteome of Phytophthora infestans., Fungal Biology, 114, 702-723.
- Bos, J.I.B.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Boevink, P.; Hein, I.; Taylor, R.M.; Tian, Z.D.; Engelhardt, S.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Harrower, B.E.; Dixelius, C.; Bryan, G.J.; Sadanandom, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Kamoun, S.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Phytophthora infestans effector AVR3a is essential for virulence and manipulates plant immunity by stabilizing host E3 ligase CMPG1., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 107, 9909-9914.
- Blum, M.; Boehler, M.; Randall, E.; Young, V.; Csukai, M.; Kraus, S.; Moulin, F.; Scalliet, G.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Fonne-Pfister, R. (2010) Mandipropamid targets the cellulose synthase-like PiCesA3 to inhibit cell wall biosynthesis in the oomycete plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Plant Pathology, 11, 227-243
- Grouffaud, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; van West, P. (2010) Towards an understanding of how RxLR-effector proteins are translocated from oomycetes into host cells., Fungal Genetics Reviews, 24, 27-36.
- Basnayake, S.; Maclean, D.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Drenth, A. (2009) Identification and occurrence of the LTR-Copia-like retrotransposon, PSCR and other Copia-like elements in the genome of Phytophthora sojae., Current Genetics, 55, 521-536.
- Bollmann, S.R.; Bos, J.I.B.; Bulone, V.; Cai, G.H.; Cakir, C.; Carrington, J.C.; Chawner, M.; Conti, L; Costanzo, S.; Ewan, R.; Fahlgren, N.; Fischbach, M.A.; Fugelstad, J.; Gilroy, E.M.; Gnerre, S.; Green, P.J.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Griffith, J.; Grunwald, N.J.; Horn, K.; Horner, N.R.; Hu, C.H.; Huitema, E.; Jeong, D.H.; Jones, A.M.E.; Jones, J.D.G.; Jones, R.W.; Karlsson, E.K.; Kunjeti, S.G.; Lamour, K.; Liu, Z.Y.; Ma, L.J.; MacLean, D.; Chibucos, M.C.; McDonald, H.; McWalters, J.; Meijer, H.J.G.; Morgan, W.; Morris, P.F.; Munro, C.A.; O'Neill, K.; Ospina-Giraldo, M.; Pinzon, A.; Pritchard, L.; Ramsahoye, B.; Ren, Q.H.; Restrepo, S.; Roy, S.; Sadanandom, A.; Savidor, A.; Schornack, S.; Schwartz, D.C.; Schumann, U.D.; Schwessinger, B.; Seyer, L.; Sharpe, T.; Silvar, C.; Song, J.; Studholme, D.J.; Sykes, S.; Thines, M.; van de Vondervoort, P.J.I.; Phuntumart, V.; Wawra, S.; Weide, R.; Win, J.; Young, C.; Zhou, S.G.; Fry, W.; Meyers, B.C.; van West, P.; Ristaino, J.; Govers, F.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Judelson, H.S.; Nusbaum, C. (2009) Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Nature, 461, 393-398.
- Lokossou, A.A.; Park, T.H.; van Arkel, G.; Arens, M.; Ruyter-Spira, C.; Morales, J.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Visser, R.G.F.; Jacobsen, E.; van der Vossen, E.A.G. (2009) Exploiting knowledge of R/Avr genes to rapidly clone a new LZ-NBS-LRR family of late blight resistance genes from potato linkage group IV., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 22, 630-641.
- Birch, P.R.J.; Armstrong, M.R.; Bos, J.; Boevink, P.; Gilroy, E.M.; Taylor, R.M.; Wawra, S.; Pritchard, L.; Conti, L.; Ewan, R.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S. (2009) Towards understanding the virulence functions of RXLR effectors of the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Journal of Experimental Botany, 60, 1133-1140.
- Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Pritchard, L.; Grouffaud, S.; Sandanandom, A.; Taylor, R.; Kamoun, S.; Bos, J.I. (2008) Translocated oomycete effectors that target the plant immune system., Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 150, S176-S177.
- van Poppel, P.M.J.A.; Guo, J.; van de Vondervoort, PJ.I.; Jung, M.W.M.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Govers, F. (2008) The Phytophthora infestans avirulence gene Avr4 encodes an RXLR-dEER effector., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 21, 1460-1470.
- Grouffaud, S.; van West, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2008) Plasmodium falciparum and Hyaloperonospora parasitica effector translocation motifs are functional in Phytophthora infestans., Microbiology, 154, 3743-3751.
- Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C. (2008) Oomycete RXLR effectors: delivery, functional redundancy and durable disease resistance., Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 11, 373-379.
- Avrova, A.O.; Boevink, P.; Young, V.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2008) A novel Phytophthora infestans haustorium-specific membrane protein is required for infection of potato., Cellular Microbiology, 10, 2271-2284.
- Walker, C.A.; Koppe, M.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Horner, N.R.; McKinnon, A.D.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. ; van West, P. (2008) A putative DEAD-box RNA-helicase is required for normal zoospore development in the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Fungal Genetics and Biology, 45,954-962.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Anderson, V.L.; Fugelstad, J.; Avrova, A.O.; Bouzenzana, J.; Williams, A.; Wawra, S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bulone, V.; van West, P. (2008) Cellulose synthesis in Phytophthora infestans is required for normal appressorium formation and successful infection of potato., Plant Cell, 20, 720-738.
- Judelson, H.S.; Ah-Fong, A.M.V.; Aux, G.; Avrova, A.O.; Bruce, C.R.; Cakir, C.; da Cunha, L.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Latijnhouwers, M.; Ligterink, W.; Meijer, HJ.G.; Roberts, S.; Thurber, C.S.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Govers, F.; Kamoun, S.; van West, P.; Windass, J. (2008) Gene expression profiling during asexual development of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans reveals a highly dynamic transcriptome., Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 21, 433-437.
- Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.; Moleleki, L.N. ; Avrova, A.O.; Morales, J.G.; Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Grouffaud, S.; van West, P.; Chapman, S.N.; Hein, I.; Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2007) A translocation signal for delivery of oomycete effector proteins into host plant cells., Nature, 450, 115-118.
- Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Pritchard, L.; Venter, E.; de Luca, S.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J. (2007) A novel, non-protein-coding infection-specific gene family is clustered throughout the genome of Phytophthora infestans., Microbiology, 153, 747-759.
- Whisson, S.C. (2016) Strategies, resources and tools to identify targets for new disease control chemicals for oomycete plant pathogens., In: Chowdappa, P., Sharma, D. Singh, A. & Misra, A.K. (eds.). Perspectives of Plant Pathology in Genomic Era. New Delhi, India, Today and Tomorrow Publishers, Chapter 13, pp271-292. ISBN 1-55528-382-9 (USA).
- Boevink, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Imaging fluorescently tagged Phytophthora effector proteins inside infected plant tissue., In: McDowell, J.M. (ed.). Methods in Molecular Biology Plant Immunity: Methods and Protocols. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, USA, Chapter 712, pp195-209.
- Whisson, S.C. (2010) Phytophthora., In: Roberts, K. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Life Science. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK,
- Whisson, S.C.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Avrova, A.O. (2009) Mechanism and application of gene silencing in oomycetes., In: Lamour, K.H. & Kamoun, S. (eds.). Oomycete Genetics and Genomics: Diversity, Interactions and Research Tools. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, Chapter 25, 493-515.
- Whisson, S.C.; Boevink, P.; Pritchard, L.; Avrova, A.O.; Morales, J.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Effector protein translocation in the Phytophthora infestans - potato infection., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp24-25.
- Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Holeva, M.C.; Hyman, L.J.; Bell, K.S.; Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J. (2004) New discoveries with Erwinia genomics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, p101.
- Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J.; Adam, M.; Blok, V.C.; Jones, J.T. (2004) Functional genomic tools for the major eukaryotic pathogens of potato., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp127-128.
- Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Armstrong, M.R.; Jones, J.T.; Venter, E.; Birch, P.R.J. (2004) Targeting late blight with gene discovery., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp102-103.
- Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Armstrong, M.R.; Campbell, E.; Birch, P.R.J. (2002) Late blight of potato: Pathogen genomics approaches to a continuing problem., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp29-32.
- Whisson, S.C.; van der Lee, T.; Bryan, G.J.; Waugh, R.; Govers, F.; Birch, P.R.J. (2001) Phytophthora infestans genomics: positional cloning of avirulence genes., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2000/2001, pp132-135.
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