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
- Kelbessa, B.G.; Ghadamgahi, F.; Kumar, P.L.; Ortiz, R.; Whisson, S.; Bhattacharjee, R.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2022) Antagonistic and plant growth promotion of rhizobacteria against Phytophthora colocasiae in taro, Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, Art. 1035549
- Wang, H.; Wang, S.; Wang, W.; Welsh, L.; Gierlinski, M.; Whisson, S.; Hemsley, P.; Boevink, P.; Birch, P. (2022) Entering via the front door Cytoplasmic effectors are taken into host cells via endocytosis, 52nd Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathologists (SASSP), 1-3 August 2022, Pretoria
- Sundararajan, P.; Kalyandurg, B. P.; Liu, Q.; Chawade, A.; Whisson, S.; Vetukuri, R. R. (2022) Spray-Induced Gene Silencing to Study Gene Function in Phytophthora, In: Luchi N. (ed.) Plant Pathology: Method and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana, New York, NY, pp. 459-474
- Thorpe, P.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Hedley, P.; Morris, J.; Whisson, M.A.; Welsh, L.; Whisson, S. (2021) Draft genome assemblies for tree pathogens Phytophthora pseudosyringae and Phytophthora boehmeriae., Journal: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 11.
- Sabbadin, F.; Urresti, S.; Henrissat, B.; Avrova, A.O.; Welsh, L.R.J.; Lindley, P.J.; Csukai, M.; Squires, J.N.; Walton, P.H.; Davies, G.J.; Bruce, N.C.; Whisson, S.C.; McQueen-Mason, S.J. (2021) Secreted pectin monooxygenases drive plant infection by pathogenic oomycetes., Science, 373, 774-779, Article No.6556.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Dubey, M.; Kalyandurg, P.B.; Carlsson, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Ortiz, R. (2021) Spray induced gene silencing an innovative strategy for plant trait improvement and disease control., Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology, 21, Article No. e387921S11.
- Kalyandurg, P.B.; Sundararajan, P.; Dubey, M.; Ghadamgahi, F.; Zahid, M.A.; Whisson, S.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2021) Spray-induced gene silencing as a potential tool to control potato late blight disease., Phytopathology, 111.
- Wang, S.M.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Hedley, P.E.; Morris, J.; Studholme, D.J.; Welsh, L.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2021) Haustorium formation and a distinct biotrophic transcriptome characterize infection of Nicotiana benthamiana by the tree pathogen Phytophthora kernoviae., Molecular Plant Pathology, 22, 954-968.
- Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Turnbull, D.; Whisson, S.C. (2020) Devastating intimacy: the cell biology of plant-phytophthora interactions., New Phytologist, 228, 445-458.
- 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.
- Boevink, P.C.; Wang, S.; Pham, J.; Turnbull, D.; Welsh, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2019) The oomycete RXLR motif determines non-conventional secretion for effector delivery., IS-MPMI Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, XVIII Congress, Glasgow, 14-18 July 2019.
- 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.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2018) How are effectors secreted and delivered to the host?, Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Meeting, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China, 8-12 April 2018.
- 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.; Randall, E.; Young, V.; Birch, P.R.J.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Csukai, M. (2013) Involvement of RNA polymerase I in mefenoxam insensitivity in Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Meeting. Pacific Grove, California, 10-12 March 2013.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Kelbessa, B.G.; Ghadamgahi, F.; Kumar, P.L.; Ortiz, R.; Whisson, S.; Bhattacharjee, R.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2022) Antagonistic and plant growth promotion of rhizobacteria against Phytophthora colocasiae in taro, Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, Art. 1035549
- Thorpe, P.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Hedley, P.; Morris, J.; Whisson, M.A.; Welsh, L.; Whisson, S. (2021) Draft genome assemblies for tree pathogens Phytophthora pseudosyringae and Phytophthora boehmeriae., Journal: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 11.
- Sabbadin, F.; Urresti, S.; Henrissat, B.; Avrova, A.O.; Welsh, L.R.J.; Lindley, P.J.; Csukai, M.; Squires, J.N.; Walton, P.H.; Davies, G.J.; Bruce, N.C.; Whisson, S.C.; McQueen-Mason, S.J. (2021) Secreted pectin monooxygenases drive plant infection by pathogenic oomycetes., Science, 373, 774-779, Article No.6556.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Dubey, M.; Kalyandurg, P.B.; Carlsson, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Ortiz, R. (2021) Spray induced gene silencing an innovative strategy for plant trait improvement and disease control., Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology, 21, Article No. e387921S11.
- Kalyandurg, P.B.; Sundararajan, P.; Dubey, M.; Ghadamgahi, F.; Zahid, M.A.; Whisson, S.; Vetukuri, R.R. (2021) Spray-induced gene silencing as a potential tool to control potato late blight disease., Phytopathology, 111.
- Wang, S.M.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Kushwaha, S.K.; Hedley, P.E.; Morris, J.; Studholme, D.J.; Welsh, L.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2021) Haustorium formation and a distinct biotrophic transcriptome characterize infection of Nicotiana benthamiana by the tree pathogen Phytophthora kernoviae., Molecular Plant Pathology, 22, 954-968.
- Boevink, P.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; Turnbull, D.; Whisson, S.C. (2020) Devastating intimacy: the cell biology of plant-phytophthora interactions., New Phytologist, 228, 445-458.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sundararajan, P.; Kalyandurg, B. P.; Liu, Q.; Chawade, A.; Whisson, S.; Vetukuri, R. R. (2022) Spray-Induced Gene Silencing to Study Gene Function in Phytophthora, In: Luchi N. (ed.) Plant Pathology: Method and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana, New York, NY, pp. 459-474
- 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.
- Wang, H.; Wang, S.; Wang, W.; Welsh, L.; Gierlinski, M.; Whisson, S.; Hemsley, P.; Boevink, P.; Birch, P. (2022) Entering via the front door Cytoplasmic effectors are taken into host cells via endocytosis, 52nd Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathologists (SASSP), 1-3 August 2022, Pretoria
- Boevink, P.C.; Wang, S.; Pham, J.; Turnbull, D.; Welsh, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2019) The oomycete RXLR motif determines non-conventional secretion for effector delivery., IS-MPMI Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, XVIII Congress, Glasgow, 14-18 July 2019.
- Wang, S.; Boevink, P.C.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2018) How are effectors secreted and delivered to the host?, Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Meeting, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China, 8-12 April 2018.
- Whisson, S.C.; Randall, E.; Young, V.; Birch, P.R.J.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Csukai, M. (2013) Involvement of RNA polymerase I in mefenoxam insensitivity in Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Meeting. Pacific Grove, California, 10-12 March 2013.
- 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.
- 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.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Hay, R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P. (2010) Identification of appressorial and mycelial cell wall and membrane-associated proteins from Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
- Vetukuri, R.R.; Tellgren-Roth, C.; Avrova, A.O.; Savenkov, E.I.; Whisson, S.C.; Dixelius, C. (2010) Exploring the small RNA world in Phyophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
- Wawra, S.; Grouffaud, S.; Bain, J.; Whisson, S.C.; Matena, A.; Porter, A.J.; Bayer, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Secombes, C.J.; van West, P. (2010) Unravelling the mechanism of RXLR mediated translocation of oomycete effector proteins., 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.
- 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.
- Whisson, S.C.; Vetukuri, R.R.; Tian, Z.D.; Dixelius, C.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Avrova, A.O. (2009) Silencing of candidate pathogenicity factors in Phytophthora infestans: transient and stable silencing., Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA, 17-22 March 2009.
- Grouffaud, S.; van West, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2009) Plasmodium falciparum and Hyaloperonospora parasitica effector translocation motifs are functional in Phytophthora infestans., Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA, 17-22 March 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.
- Grouffaud, S.; Boevink, P.; Avrova, A.O.; van West, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2008) Translocation of effector proteins from the oomycete Phytophthora infestans into plant cells., 9th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Edinburgh, 5-8 April 2008.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Anderson, V.L.; Bruce, C.R.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; van West, P. (2007) Functional characterisation of cellulose synthases from Phytophthora infestans using proteomics and RNA interference., XXIV Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar Conference Grounds, California, USA, 20-25 March 2007.
- Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Anderson, V.L.; Avrova, A.O.; Williams, A.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J.; van West, P. (2007) Cellulose synthesis in Phytophthora infestans is required for appressorium formation and successful infection of potato., BSPP Presidential Meeting, University of Bath, 12-14 September 2007 (Poster).
- Zody, M.C.; Jiang, R.H.Y.; Handsaker, R.; Grabherr, M.; Kodira, C.D.; Govers, F.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; Win, J.; Judelson, H.S.; Ristaino, J.B.; Fry, W.E.; Kamoun, S.; Nusbaum, C. (2007) Genome dynamics in the pathogen/host arms race: Initial analysis of the Phytophthora infestans genome., American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, 28 July-1 August 2007.
- Avrova, A.O.; Boevink, P.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; van West, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C. (2007) Identification of novel pathogenicity factors in the late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans., 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.
- Morales, J.G.; Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Mechanisms of virulence and avirulence in the biotrophic interaction between potato and late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network, Wageningen, 4-7 May 2006
- Walker, C.; Koppe, M.; Avrova, A.O.; Grenville-Briggs, L.J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Whisson, S.C.; van West, P. (2005) A DEAD box RNA helicase is required for normal zoospore development in the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens XVI, Ambleside, 19-21 September 2005 (Talk).
- 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).
- Birch, P.R.J.; Blok, V.C.; Phillips, M.; Jones, J.T.; Stewart, H.E.; Duncan, J.M.; Bryan, G.J.; Waugh, R.; Lyon, G.D.; MacFarlane, S.A.; Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Toth, I.K. (2003) Current and future research at SCRI on the molecular genetics of the interactions between potato and its major pathogens., Acta Horticulturae, 619, 95-119.
