Associate Researcher CONICET / Assistant Professor UNC
Phone: 54 351 5353855 ext 3422
E-mail: gfabro@fcq.unc.edu.ar
Research Topic
Plant-Pathogen Interactions
Different phytopathogens such as bacteria, fungi and oomycetes that feed on plants use a variety of molecules to colonize their hosts. “Effector” proteins, which are secreted by pathogens and delivered into plant cells, play pivotal roles in establishing a successful infection. The detailed study of the activities exhibited by phytopathogen effectors is of great relevance for the generation of knowledge that allows improvement of crop resistance to pests, as well as to manipulate the biochemistry and the development of the plants in the absence of disease. In the latter case, knowing the function of the effectors would permit us to use their activities to modify for example; the transport of components to subcellular or extracellular domains, alter hormonal balances to promote growth, activate the transcription of specific defence genes in response to the perception of conserved pathogenic molecules, etc. A limitation for this type of applications is that very little is known about the roles of effectors themselves as well as the identities of their target proteins in the host cell and also the functions exerted by those targets when alone/modified by the effector.
To contribute to this point, my current line of research is focused on characterizing the roles of RxLR effector proteins from the oomycete model pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) -and their orthologs from Phytophthora infestans as well as effectors from the fungus Golovinomyces orontii – over the plant defence systems and their growth and development programs. Specifically, I am studying the interaction between the nuclear-localized effector HaRxL106 of Hpa and the transcription factors BIM1 and IAA11 involved in the brassinosteroid (BRs) and auxin hormonal pathways signalling in Arabidopsis. These plant proteins are also targets of a G. orontii effector, creating an opportunity to investigate how and why effectors from different kingdoms (oomyces and fungi) target the same host proteins.
Fellows
Selected Publications
- 2012. “Loss of compatibility might explain resistance of the Arabidopsis thaliana accession Te-0 to Golovinomyces cichoracearum. Georgina Fabro, Maria E. Alvarez. BMC Plant Biology. 2012. 12:143.
- 2014. “Probing formation of cargo/importin-α transport complexes in plant cells using a pathogen effector”. Wirthmueller L, Roth C, Fabro G, MC Caillaud, Rallapalli G, Asai S, Sklenar J, Jones AM, Wiermer M, Jones JD, Banfield MJ. Plant J. 2014 Oct 6. doi: 10.1111/tpj.12691.
- 2016. “Arabidopsis Proline Dehydrogenase contributes to flagellin mediated MAMP-Triggered Immunity by affecting RBOHD”. Fabro, G,. Rizzi YS and Alvarez, M.E. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 29 (8), pp 620-628. IF the 2016: 4.21.
- 2017. “Phospholypase C 2 affects MAMP-Triggered Immunity by Modulating ROS Production” by Juan Martín D’Ambrosio, Daniel Couto, Georgina Fabro, Denise Scuffi, Lorenzo Lamattina, Teun Munnik, Mats Andersson, Maria Alvarez, Cyril Zipfel, and Ana Laxalt. Plant Physiology, 175 (2), pp970-981.IF de 2016: 7.2.
- 2018. “Arabidopsis Downy Mildew effector HaRxL106 suppresses plant immunity by binding to Radical-Induced Cell Death1”. Lennart Wirthmueller, Shuta Asai, Ghanasyam Rallapalli, Jan Sklenar, Georgina Fabro, Dae Kim, Ruth Lintermann, Pinja Jaspers, Michael Wrzaczek, Jaakko Kangasjärvi, and MacLean, Frank Menke, Mark Banfield, and Jonathan Jones. New Phytologist, 220, 232-248
Current Grants
- FONCyT PICT 2017.
- FONCyT PICT 2014-0356.
- CONICET PIP 2014-2016.
Brief CV
Academic Formation
- Biologist. Orientation in Cellular and Molecular Biology. College of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences. National University of Cordoba. 1995-2000.
- PhD in Chemical Sciences. Orientation in Plant-Pathology. College of Chemical Sciences, National University of Cordoba. 2001-2005. PhD Thesis: Characterization of Molecular Signals from Arabidopsis that modulate the virulence of fungal pathogens”. Director: Dr. Mary E. M. Elena Alvarez.
- Post-Doc in Plant-Pathogen Interactions. The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich, Norfolk, England. 2006 – 2011. Topic: Effectoromics of Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis: mechanisms of virulence in Arabidopsis thaliana. Director: Jonathan D.G. Jones.
Research Background
I started my independent work as Research Associate (Research Associate, CONICET) in 2016, focusing on the study of effector proteins from oomycete phyto-patogens. This is a “vacancy area” of research in Argentina and I want to develop my scientific career on this topic. Considering we have an agricultural-based economy is highly relevant for me to develop the skills to perform investigations that will contribute to plant health management. My research would contribute basic scientific knowledge, as well as new techniques and human resources training.
Teaching Background
- Assistant Professor (2018- ) Fcq, UNC.
- Assistant Professor (2013-2018) Fcq, UNC.
Topics: Plant biotechnology, Genetics.
Institutional Management Background
- 2013 -Member of CIQUIBIC´s council representing Assistant Researchers.
Background on Science outreach and extension
- 2014. Fascination Plants Day. Talk-debate about Transgenic crops.
- 2015. Informative Talk “”Study of plant-pathogen interactions using tools of Genetics and Molecular Biology “” for freshman students of the School of Biological sciences.College of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences. National University of Cordoba.”