We’re excited to share our latest findings on how the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis senses when it has entered its plant host. In this study, we discovered a new GPCR-based system that links host protease activity to fungal signaling, allowing the pathogen to recognize the host environment and trigger infection-related responses. This work, led by Gabriel and Philip, uncovers the Gpe1–Pit2 system as a key example of how fungi translate host-derived cues into developmental decisions during infection.
Read the preprint here
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