The haustorial transcriptomes of Uromyces appendiculatus and Phakopsora pachyrhizi - identification of families of candidate effectors

Haustoria of biotrophic rust fungi are responsible for uptake of nutrients from the host. Haustoria also produce secreted proteins known as effectors that suppress host defenses. Here, we studied the haustorial transcriptomes of Phakopsora pachyrhizi and Uromyces appendiculatus, the causal agents of soybean rust and common bean rust, respectively. The goal of the study is to identify sets of candidate effector proteins for the legume rust pathogens, P. pachyrhizi and U. appendiculatus, and provide a foundation for comparative analysis of haustorial gene expression with further insight into effector evolution. Effectors are a key to the understanding of the molecular interaction between host and pathogen and could be novel targets for pathogen control.