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Mamoona Khan

@mamoonakhan.bsky.social

Group leader @ INRES, University of Bonn. Interested in plant microbe interactions, effectors, and evolution of symbiosis

5 Posts123 Follower224 Folgt
Mamoona Khan@mamoonakhan.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I am honored that my microscopy image has been selected as the cover of a @newphyt.bsky.social issue for the third time. Thanks to the production team for selecting my image.

New Phytologist@newphyt.bsky.social · 6mo ago

On the cover of our #LatestIssue: Colour-coded confocal z-stack depicting the three-dimensional architecture of a fungal-algal coculture isolated from a local pond. Image courtesy of Mamoona Khan. 📖 See Djamei et al. nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

On the cover of New Phytologist volume 249, issue 6: Color-coded confocal z-stack depicting the three-dimensional architecture of a fungal-algal coculture isolated from a local pond. Fungal hyphae are visualized by calcofluor staining, while algal cells are detected through their native autofluorescence. Image courtesy of Mamoona Khan.
Mamoona Khan@mamoonakhan.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Excited to share that our recent paper @newphyt.bsky.social is highlighted by @plantteaching.bsky.social on @plantaeofficial.bsky.social.

Mary Williams @PlantTeaching@plantteaching.bsky.social · 7mo ago

PSRW Jan 16 2026 plantae.org/plant-scienc... (2/2) Plasma membrane proteins transduce heat signal; Cycads use heat to attract pollinators; Visualizing viral replication in living cells; Smut fungus uses plant auxin signaling to build galls. @nbellono.bsky.social @mamoonakhan.bsky.social

A diagram showing how the rust fungus produces effectors that interfere with the TPL protein, leading to the induction of auxin-related genes that promote root developmental programs and cell division.
Team_Zuccaro@algazuccaro.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Now online: Effector biology and immunometabolic (re)programming: microbial strategies for compatibility: Molecular Plant www.cell.com/molecular-pl...

Effector biology and immunometabolic (re)programming: microbial strategies for compatibility

Root immunometabolism: balancing defense and accommodationPlant health depends on balanced immune defense and microbial accommodation. As constant contact zones, roots must exclude pathogens while fos...

cell.com

Isabel saur@izzysaurlab.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Wei Shi @wshisky.bsky.social & Merle‘s work is online. Wei really pushed this work from scratch and Merle linked it to MLA diversification…3rd (co-)first author paper in her PhD. Very proud PI! And only possible through collaboration with G. Döhlemann, @grandpahiro.bsky.social &, Matt Platre. (1/x)

Targeting of the barley cell-surface receptor SRF3 by the Blumeria hordei effector AVRA13 overlaps with AVRA13 recognition by MLA and the induction of NLR-mediated cell death.

Pathogens secrete effector proteins to promote virulence. Despite their recognition by barley Mla resistance genes, the structurally-related Blumeria hordei ( Bh ) AVRA effectors are maintained in the...

doi.org

KC👨‍🔬🌾🍄🇦🇺@karchuntan.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Our @theccdm.bsky.social preprint on the domain function and interactors of the effector-regulating transcription factor PnPf2 in Parastagonospora nodorum is live! 😁 Led by Shota Morikawa @callumverdonk.bsky.social Collabs 👉 @danielcroll.bsky.social @evan-john.bsky.social

A conserved fungal transcription factor domain drives protein-protein interactions and necrotrophic effector-mediated virulence in Parastagonospora nodorum

The fungal pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum utilises necrotrophic effectors (NEs) to cause chlorosis and necrosis on wheat. NE expression is mediated by an assortment of transcription factors (TF), t...

biorxiv.org

Mamoona Khan@mamoonakhan.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Our preprint is now published in @newphyt.bsky.social. Many thanks to the editor and reviewers for their constructive feedback. nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/....

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Universität Bonn@unibonn.bsky.social · 7mo ago

When the fungus Ustilago maydis infects maize plants, tumour-like tissue growths develop. Researchers led by Prof. Armin Djamei have now discovered that the fungus hijacks a programme in the plant that is responsible for forming lateral roots: www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/002-... @effectomics.bsky.social

Galls on maize (left). - Tissue structure alterations caused by infection are visible under a microscope (center). When Arabidopsis thaliana (right) forms the fungal effector protein Tip4, gall-like accumulations of undifferentiated cells appear instead of lateral roots. © Figure: (c) Professor Djamei’s research group / University of Bonn
Mamoona Khan@mamoonakhan.bsky.social · last yr.

I am thrilled to share the latest preprint from our lab! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Huge thanks to everyone involved!

Pathogenic fungus exploits the lateral root regulators to induce pluripotency in maize shoots

Biotrophic plant pathogens secrete effector molecules to redirect and exploit endogenous signaling and developmental pathways in their favor. The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis causes galls on all ...

biorxiv.org

bioRxivpreprint@biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · last yr.

Pathogenic fungus exploits the lateral root regulators to induce pluripotency in maize shoots https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.30.662278v1

Team Thomma@teamthomma.bsky.social · 2y ago

📣New year, new preprint @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social 🎉! A study led by the brilliant @yukiyosato.bsky.social showing that Starship giant transposons dominate plastic genomic regions in the fungal plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae and drive virulence evolution. 🧵[1/12] doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Starship giant transposons dominate plastic genomic regions in a fungal plant pathogen and drive virulence evolution

Starships form a recently discovered superfamily of giant transposons in Pezizomycotina fungi, implicated in mediating horizontal transfer of diverse cargo genes between fungal genomes. Their elusive nature has long obscured their significance, and their impact on genome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal a surprising abundance and diversity of Starships in the phytopathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Remarkably, Starships dominate the plastic genomic compartments involved in host colonization, are enriched in virulence-associated genes, and exhibit genetic and epigenetic characteristics associated with adaptive genome evolution. We further uncover extensive horizontal transfer of Starships between Verticillium species and, strikingly, from distantly related Fusarium fungi. Finally, we demonstrate how Starship activity facilitated the de novo formation of a novel virulence gene. Our findings illuminate the profound influence of Starship dynamics on fungal genome evolution and the development of virulence. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

doi.org

Mamoona Khan@mamoonakhan.bsky.social · 2y ago

I am very excited to be a part of AFEs 2025- 2026 @plantphys.bsky.social ! Looking forward to working with and learning from inspiring, experienced scientists @plantteaching.bsky.social @plantphys.bsky.social

Plant Physiology@plantphys.bsky.social · 2y ago

📣 Plant Physiology welcomes new Assistant Features Editors starting in 2025 and 2026!👉 https://academic.oup.com/plphys/advance-article/doi/10.1093/plphys/kiae661/7922604 A big thanks, to those who are stepping down from the position!👏

Plant Physiology 2025-26 Assistant Features Editors. academic.oup.com/plphys|www.aspb.org. Featuring Plant Physiology and ASPB logos and themed-background.