The Sainsbury Laboratory

Fungal symbioses: A multiplicity of fungi in the lichen union Increasing evidence suggests that lichens are not just a partnership between one fungus and one alga or cyanobacterium but may contain multiple intera…

New Dispatch article on the multitude of fungal symbionts now being reported in lichens, led by @puginiercamille.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

TSL Ventures Operations Officer Translate ideas and discoveries into impactful innovations

📣 VACANCY: TSL Ventures Operations Officer

Join us to support the TSL Ventures Executive translate ideas and discoveries generated at TSL into impactful innovations. 🧬

⏰ Apply online by 31 March 2026

Norwich Single-Cell and Spatial Symposium 2026 Bringing together the international single-cell and spatial community for a two-day discussion across model and non-model systems.

💬 “The symposium has always been a space for early career researchers to present early work, and for people to present preliminary findings."

Early-bird tickets and abstract submissions are currently open to join our #SingleCell and #Spatial Symposium in July.

👉 buff.ly/2KvQ3Zv

💻🧬

bioRxiv: Plasma membrane nanoscale dynamics of Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase complexes (2026) Plasma membrane-localized receptors operate as dynamic signaling complexes and integrative networks, yet the spatial and temporal regulation of these interactions remain largely unknown. Here, by analyzing the components of a minimal Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase network, we describe the differential diffusion and organization of receptor complex components and unveil the nanoscale spatial and temporal logic underlying the formation of receptor kinase complexes. The ligand-binding receptors FLS2 and BRI1, and the accessory receptor BIR3, are organized in plasma membrane nanodomains, within which the co-receptor BAK1 diffuses and is spatially arrested upon ligand perception. BAK1 spatial arrest relies on extracellular domain (ECD)-ECD interactions but does not require receptor complex activation. Mathematical modelling, single molecule imaging and bio-assays infer that accessory receptors maintain a dynamic pool of co-receptors in the vicinity of ligand-binding receptors to promote ligand-induced complex formation and signaling. We propose that ligand-induced receptor kinase complex formation is a deterministic process defined by the relative nanoscale spatial positioning of individual signaling and regulatory components.

New Preprint: Plasma membrane nanoscale dynamics of Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase complexes (2026)

https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/164874

Laboratory Technician - 2Blades Group A Laboratory Technician position is available to join the 2Blades Group at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich

📣 LAST WEEK to apply for a Lab Technician position in the 2Blades group with @kamiljwitek.bsky.social

Join the team to work on developing resistance traits in soybean 🌱

Apply online, deadline 15 March 2026

www.tsl.ac.uk/working-at-t...

#PlantSciJobs #PlantScience #STEMJobs

If you have the opportunity, apply for the TSL @thesainsburylab.bsky.social Summer Conference. An intense week with top experts in plant-microbe interactions. What you can learn here in a week would normally take months (or longer)!!! @kamounlab.bsky.social 🦠🔬🌱

www.tsl.ac.uk/tsl-summer-c...

bioRxiv: The Receptor Kinase MEE39/ATHE Mediates Cell Wall Integrity Surveillance During Root Vascular Pathogen Infection (2026) Plant cell wall (CW) integrity signaling enables early detection of microbial invasion, yet the receptors involved and their spatial and temporal dynamics during infection remain largely unknown. We identify ATHENA (ATHE)/MEE39, a previously uncharacterized malectin‑like leucin-rich repeat receptor kinase (Mal-LRR-RK) that contributes to defense against the root vascular pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), particularly in outer root layers where colonization begins. ATHE abundance, localization, and endocytic trafficking are rapidly remodeled during infection, and loss of ATHE compromises basal immunity and early pathogen‑induced transcriptional reprogramming. ATHE responds to altered cellulose synthesis, cellulose‑derived oligosaccharides, mechanically induced CW perturbations, and the fungal secreted peptide Fo‑RALF. In most of these contexts, ATHE acts together with the LRR-RK MIK2, forming a pathogen‑strengthened RK complex that fine‑tunes root responses to Fo. This represents the first example of a receptor complex visualized subcellularly in vivo during a plant-microbe interaction. Although Brassicaceae‑specific, heterologous expression of ATHE enhanced tomato resistance to Fo, highlighting its functional relevance across plant lineages and its potential use for crop engineering. Our work reveals a previously unrecognized strategy by which plants decode microbial threats through dynamic CW‑integrity surveillance.

New Preprint: The Receptor Kinase MEE39/ATHE Mediates Cell Wall Integrity Surveillance During Root Vascular Pathogen Infection (2026)

https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/164871

Excited to collaborate with @hassansalem.bsky.social and @tatsuyanobori.bsky.social on this new Postdoc opportunity!

If you're interested in the developmental biology of symbiosis, apply and join us @johninnescentre.bsky.social and @thesainsburylab.bsky.social 🪲🦠🔬

Mark Webber opens the Centre for Microbial Interactions Annual Conference at Norwich Research Park @thesainsburylab.bsky.social @johninnescentre.bsky.social @earlhaminst.bsky.social @quadraminstitute.bsky.social @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social #CMINorwich26

Here is our very own @mattwengler.bsky.social talking about his phosphoproteomic analysis of TOR signalling. #CMINorwich26

Cell: A regulatory network promotes apoplastic alkalinization to prime plant immunity in tissues distal to site of infection (2026) Immune activation in plants triggers extracellular alkalinization, presumably by inhibiting plasma membrane H+-ATPases. The precise role and underlying mechanisms of this process remain poorly understood. Here, we show that Pseudomonas syringae bacteria induce apoplastic alkalinization not only at the site of infection but also in neighboring distal tissues to prime defenses and disease resistance in Arabidopsis. We show that several calcium-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate Ser899 of two major autoinhibited H+-ATPases to dampen their activity, leading to alkalinization. The distal alkalinization is accompanied by the transcriptional activation of phytocytokines, including plant elicitor peptides, serine-rich endogenous peptides, and their receptors. We show that these phytocytokines promote distal alkalinization and disease resistance, whereas the apoplastic alkalinization sensitizes the phytocytokine perception that further induces phytocytokine genes. Our study suggests that apoplastic alkalinization and phytocytokine gene expression mutually potentiate and act as a combined signal that propagates in local-distal communication and disease resistance priming.

New Publication: A regulatory network promotes apoplastic alkalinization to prime plant immunity in tissues distal to site of infection (2026)
https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/164801

The appointed Postdoctoral Researcher will work in collaboration with the groups of @berasymbionts.bsky.social and @tatsuyanobori.bsky.social at The Sainsbury Laboratory ⬇️

Code by Claude Code, art by the irreplaceable @hsuanpai.bsky.social, and science by many.

Hope to fill this space with discoveries from our new lab @thesainsburylab.bsky.social!

#GGFungi2026 Call For Projects is now open for applications getgenome.net/callforproje...

We will be holding an information session today 3rd March at 14:00 CET (08:00 Eastern US; 18:00 PKT). To sign up please complete this short form - forms.office.com/e/DssYYkkY9Z

TSL Summer Conference in Plant-Microbe Interactions, 20th – 31st July… Inviting Early Career Researchers to join international experts in discussing the latest approaches and discoveries in Plant-Microbe Interactions …

Just a reminder that our TSL Summer Conference in Plant-Microbe Interactions is taking place this summer in Norwich!

⏰ APPLY by 30 March 2026

More info on our website: www.tsl.ac.uk/tsl-summer-c...

Always happy to discuss plants and chromatin 🌱🧬 Great questions from the students! Thanks for the opportunity 👨‍🏫

Today’s @thesainsburylab.bsky.social MSc lecture focused on epigenetics (broadly defined), delivered by our chromatin aficionado, @vgeshkovski.bsky.social

TSL Ventures Operations Officer Translate ideas and discoveries into impactful innovations

📣 VACANCY: TSL Ventures Operations Officer

Join us to support the TSL Ventures Executive translate ideas and discoveries generated at TSL into impactful innovations. 🧬

⏰ Apply online by 31 March 2026

www.tsl.ac.uk/working-at-t...

Siyu @siyusong.bsky.social introduced the concept of PCoA.

She created this PCoA plot based on our lab members’ research interests.

Quiz: Is Tatsuya, sitting in the middle, interested in everything or nothing? 🤔

PHYTOMap time, joined by @hsuanpai.bsky.social 🌱🔬

Check out this great opportunity to join the @kamounlab.bsky.social!

Apply online by 16 March 2026

www.tsl.ac.uk/working-at-t...

#PlantSciJobs #PlantScience #STEMJobs

Today’s @thesainsburylab.bsky.social MSc lecture focused on symbiosis and the microbiome, delivered by Karen and Siyu from our lab.

Great to see so many thoughtful questions from the students 😄

BMC Plant Biol: Targeted capture and cloning of Rps6 reveal redundancy in soybean resistance genes (2026) Effective management of Phytophthora root rot in soybean is compromised by the rapid loss of efficacy of the most widely deployed resistance genes to Phytophthora sojae (Rps). However, some genes such as Rps3a and Rps6 are still offering a strong protection but are nonetheless rare in elite material, probably owing to the fact that they have never been properly characterized. In this study, we have employed RenSeq, and whole genome sequencing to unravel the nature of Rps6 as a complex locus composed of 10 NLR genes. In a cell death assay using soybean protoplasts, we show that one of the candidates from the cluster interacts robustly with Avr6. Transfer of the candidate gene into a susceptible root system confirmed its function and status as the bona fide Rps6. Through sequence comparison with other Rps differentials, we further discovered that Rps3c and Rps4, originally thought to be distinct genes on different chromosomes, are, in fact, the exact same resistance gene as Rps6, mediating recognition to the same effector, Avr6. These results clarify a long-standing confusion regarding the identity of some elusive Rps genes and offer the precise sequence and position of Rps6. At the same time, along with the recently exposed homology between Rps3b and Rps11, these findings raise some concerns about the apparent multiplicity of Rps genes. Indeed, there may be fewer sources of resistance than assumed, which should instill caution in using current Rps genes to ensure durable management of Phytophthora root rot.

New Publication: Targeted capture and cloning of Rps6 reveal redundancy in soybean resistance genes (2026)

https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/164677

Laboratory Technician - 2Blades Group A Laboratory Technician position is available to join the 2Blades Group at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich

Just over two weeks left to apply for this open Laboratory Technician opportunity in the 2Blades group!

Join the team to work on developing resistance traits in soybean 🌱

Apply online, deadline 15 March 2026

tsl.ac.uk/working-at-t...

#PlantSciJobs #PlantScience #STEMJobs

The Microbial Genomics ECR Symposium will return again this summer!

Co-organised by @norwichmicro.bsky.social and @getgenome.bsky.social the symposium will take place on 15th July 2026 at the John Innes Conference Centre.

Please register here: web.novogene.com/2026TheMicro...

I made this green fluorescent flower with sequencing support from plasmidsaurus! 🦖🧬🌸✨

Limited edition postcards of the flowers below:

Had a great time volunteering at the microbe zoo in #NorwichScienceFestival manning the soil tunnel and plant pathogen board. Last chance to give the exhibit a visit tomorrow!

Thanks @samfrowe.bsky.social for organising the volunteers.

@norwichmicro.bsky.social
@sawtrust.bsky.social

Among the lichens of Long’s Wood this morning. #Norfolk

Had a blast at the orchid exibition at Kew Gardens yesterday 😍

Highly recommended, and a great excuse to visit these beautiful and immense gardens! 🌱🌿

@vgeshkovski.bsky.social @adelineharant.bsky.social @hsuanpai.bsky.social @shaniakeh.bsky.social

@rbgkew.bsky.social

Hi Yuji, you can email corresponding authors and ask 😊