Peptide signaling in plant-microbe partnerships
Official title: Peptide-receptor signaling in plant-microbe interactions
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11404997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher will study how plant cells sense and decide how to respond to microbial signals to keep good microbes and avoid disease in a plant system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $468,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160060-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; applicable to plants and agriculture.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how plant cells interpret signals from beneficial microbes and how they distinguish these from harmful cues. It focuses on cellular decision-making and how molecules from microbes can hijack host signaling. The work centers on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the plant’s CLAVATA signaling pathway to understand mutualism and parasitism. By uncovering how plants regulate these conversations, the research aims to reveal fundamental rules of plant-microbe communication that affect health and ecosystem function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding plant signaling could lead to crops that better partner with beneficial microbes, improving growth and resilience.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that plant signaling pathways control mutualism and defense, suggesting this approach could reveal actionable biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mueller, Lena Maria — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Mueller, Lena Maria
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.