Dr. Peter S. Solomon

Research School of Biology

RN Robertson Building

The Australian National University

Canberra 0200

ACT

Australia

Ph: (02) 6125 3952
Fax: (02) 6125 4331

Email:peter.solomon@anu.edu.au

Information for prospective students

Current position:

Lab Leader, Functional Genomics of Plant-Pathogen Interactions

Projects:

1. Host specific toxins (HSTs) in S. nodorum. We have recently shown that S. nodorum produces proteinaceous HSTs that have a significant role in causing disease. Our best understood candidate is ToxA, a protein that appears to be encoded by a gene that was subject to a horizontal gene transfer event from Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. We know that this protein is internalised by host cells and we also know it is targeted at the sub-cellular level. However, its mode of action remains elusive. S. nodorum also produces other proteinaceous HSTs that we have been able to identify by infiltrating the progeny of several different crosses. However the encoding genes remain elusive. A current project is trying to identify the genes encoding these HSTs predominantly through purifying the proteins in a traditional manner. We are also approaching this problem through comparative genomics by comparing the genome sequence of our virulent strain that produces many of the toxins to the sequence of an avirulent strain (generated via Illumina) that we know does not produce HSTs. Once candidate genes have been identified, these can then be selectively deleted through homologous recombination to determine their true role. This project is in collaboration with Prof. Richard Oliver at the Australian Centre for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens (Murdoch University) and Dr. Tim Friesen at the USDA (Fargo, ND, USA).

 2. Understanding the role and identifying targets of signal transduction in S. nodorum.

We have previously demonstrated the requirement for many of the signalling pathways in S. nodorum for infection. Our interest is not so much on elucidating the complexity of signal transduction, but rather the genes and proteins that are regulated by these pathways and are responsible for the mutant phenotypes. Our current approaches for identifying these candidate genes are using metabolomics and proteomics. For metabolomics, we predominantly use GC-MS for profiling low-molecular weight metabolites in a library of S. nodorum signal transduction mutants. These profiles are then compiled into metabolic pathways highlighting gene, protein and pathway signalling-dependent regulation. Candidate genes can then be selectively deleted via reverse genetic approaches to identify their role. We are also studying secondary metabolism using ESI-MS and LC-MS on various mutants of S. nodorum we have created lacking polyketide synthases and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases.

3. Characterising the proteome of S. nodorum. Several of the signal transduction mutants have also been characterised using proteomics. This approach, combined with metabolomics and cell biology, has identified many interesting facets of the pathogen including its ability to produce mycotoxins. Up until recently our proteomics approach has been gel based but we have now moved towards gel free systems using 2D LC-MS/MS. This project is in collaboration with Proteomics International, Perth, Western Australia.

PhD/Honours Projects:

Currently available in the Functional Genomics of Plant-Pathogen Interactions laboratory

 

1.  Identifying pathogenicity effectors in Stagonospora nodorum using 2D-PAGE

A proteomics project is available to identify pathogenicity factors in the fungus Stagonospora nodorum, a significant pathogen of wheat throughout the world. The project will involve using 2D-PAGE to compare the proteomes of wild-type pathogenic isolates and mutant non-pathogenic isolates to identify potential pathogenicity proteins. The role of these proteins will then be functionally validated by disrupting the encoding gene via genetic manipulation.

2.  Identifying host-specific toxins in Stagonospora nodorum

Previous research from this laboratory and collaborators has shown S. nodorum secretes host-specific toxins that are required to cause disease. Whilst the activities have been identified, it is unclear what many of the encoding genes are. A project is available to identify and characterise these genes using a combination of proteomic and genomic tools.

3.  Development of genetic manipulation techniques in Mycosphaerella graminicola

Mycosphaerella graminicola is a very serious pathogen of wheat in Europe and is a significant potential threat to Australian wheat production. A project is available to establish genetic manipulation techniques for M. graminicola, in particular gene disruption. Once established, candidate genes will be chosen for gene disruption to determine their role in pathogenicity.

Other projects in the areas of proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics are available with the aim of better understanding plant-pathogen interactions. Please contact Dr. Peter Solomon (peter.solomon@anu.edu.au) for further information on any of the above projects.

Group Members :

Dr. Delphine Vincent	Postdoctoral Fellow	delphine.vincent@anu.edu.au
Dr Corinna Paeper	Postdoctoral Fellow	corinna.paeper@anu.edu.au
Ms Rosemary Birch	Technician	rosemary.birch@anu.edu.au
Mr Liam Cassidy	PhD Student
Mr Hulson Zhang	Honours Student

 

 

Selected Publications:

2009

Casey*, T., Solomon*, P.S., Bringans, S., Tan, K-C., Oliver, R.P. & Lipscombe, R. (2009) Quantitative proteomic analysis of G-protein signalling in Stagonospora nodorum using Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification (iTRAQ). Proteomics (in press).

Antoni, E., Rybak, K., Tucker, M., Hane, J.K., Solomon, P.S., Drenth, A., Shanker, M. & Oliver, R.P. (2009) Ubiquity of ToxA and absence of ToxB in Australian populations of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Australasian Plant Pathology. (in press)

Bringans, S., Hane, J.K., Casey, T., Tan, K-C., Lipscombe, R., Solomon, P.S. & Oliver, R.P. (2009) Deep proteogenomics; high throughput gene validation by multidimensional liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of proteins from the fungal wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. BMC Bioinformatics 10: 301.

Liu, Z., Faris, J.D., Oliver, R.P., Tan, K-C., Solomon, P.S., McDonald, M.C., McDonald, B.A., Nunez, A., Lu, S., Rasmussen, J.B. & Friesen, T.L. (2009) SnTox3 acts in effector triggered susceptibility to induce disease on wheat carrying the Snn3 gene. PLoS Pathogens 5: e1000581.

Tan, K-C, IpCho, S.V.S., Trengove, R.D., Oliver, R.P. & Solomon, P.S. (2009) Assessing the impact of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics on fungal phytopathology. Molecular Plant Pathology 10: 703-715. .

Tan, K-C., Trengove, R.D., Maker, G.L., Oliver, R.P. & Solomon, P.S. (2009) Metabolite profiling identifies the mycotoxin alternariol in the pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Metabolomics 5: 330-335.

Lowe, R.G.T, Lord, M., Rybak, K., Trengove, R.D. & Solomon, P.S. (2009) Trehalose biosynthesis is involved in sporulation of Stagonospora nodorum. Fungal Genetics and Biology 46: 381-389.

Oliver, R.P., Rybak, K., Solomon, P.S. & Ferguson-Hunt, M. (2009) Prevalence of ToxA-sensitive alleles of the wheat gene Tsn1 in Australian and Chinese wheat cultivars. Crop and Pasture Science 60,:348-352.

Tan, K-C., Heazlewood, J.L., Millar, A.H., Oliver, R.P. & Solomon, P.S. (2009) Proteomic identification of extracellular proteins regulated by the Gna1 Ga subunit in Stagonospora nodorum. Mycological Research 113: 523-531.

 

2008

Lowe, R.G.T., Lord, M., Rybak, K., Trengove, R.D., Oliver, R.P., and Solomon, P.S. (2008) A metabolomic approach to dissecting osmotic stress in the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Fungal Genetics and Biology 45: 1479-1486.

Tan, K.-C., Heazlewood, J.L., Millar, A.H., Thomson, G., Oliver, R.P., and Solomon, P.S. (2008) A signalling-regulated short-chain dehydrogenase of Stagonospora nodorum regulates asexual development. Eukaryotic Cell 7, 1916-1929.

Friesen, T.L., Faris, J.D., Solomon, P.S. & Oliver, R.P. (2008) Host specific toxins; effectors of necrotrophic pathogenicity. Cellular Microbiology 10: 1421-1428.

Li, W., Csukai, M., Corran, A. Crowley, P., Solomon, P.S. & Oliver, R.P. (2008) Malayamycin, a new streptomycete antifungal compound, specifically inhibits sporulation of Stagonospora nodorum, cause of wheat glume blotch disease. Pest Management Science 64: 1294-302.

Solomon, P.S., Ipcho, S.V.S., Hane, J.K., Tan, K-C & Oliver, R.P. (2008) A quantitative PCR approach to determine gene copy number. Fungal Genetics Reports 55: 5-8.

Oliver, R.P., Lord, M., Rybak, K., and Solomon, P.S. (2008) Can the recent emergence of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in Australia be attributed to the introduction of ToxA-sensitive wheat cultivars? Phytopathology 98: 488-491.

Oliver, R.P., Rybak, K., Shankar, M., Loughman, R., Harry, N. & Solomon, P.S. (2008) Quantitative disease resistance assessment by real-time PCR. Plant Pathology 57: 527-532.

Oliver, R.P. and Solomon, P.S. (2008) Recent fungal diseases of crop plants; is lateral gene transfer a common theme? Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 21: 287-293.

Friesen, T.L., Zhang, Z., Solomon, P.S., Oliver, R.P., and Faris, J.D. (2008) Genetic characterization of a novel wheat-Stagonospora nodorum host-selective toxin interaction and its role in disease susceptibility. Plant Physiology 146: 682-693.

 

2007

Hane, J., Lowe, R.G.T., Solomon, P.S., Tan, K.-C., Schoch, C., Spatafora, J.W., Crous, P.W., Kodira, C., Birren, B., and Oliver, R.P. (2007) Dothideomycete-plant interactions illuminated by genome sequencing and EST analysis of the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Plant Cell 19: 3347-3368.

Solomon, P.S., Waters, O.D.C., and Oliver, R.P. (2007) Decoding the enigmatic mannitol in filamentous fungi. Trends in Microbiology 15: 257-262.

Solomon, P.S., Waters, O.D.C., Joergens, C.I., Lowe, R.G.T., Rechberger, J., Trengove, R.D., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Mannitol is required for asexual sporulation in the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum (glume blotch). Biochemical Journal 399: 231-239.

 

2006

Solomon, P.S., Rybak, K., Trengove, R.D., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Investigating the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein signalling in Stagonospora nodorum. Molecular Microbiology 62: 367-381.

Solomon, P.S., Lowe, R.G.T., Trengove, R.D., Rechberger, J., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Normalisation of metabolites in heterogenous systems using genomics. Analytical Biochemistry 350: 156-158.

Solomon, P.S., Joergens, C.I., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) delta-Aminolevulinic acid synthesis is required for virulence of the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Microbiology 152: 1533-1538.

Solomon, P.S., Wilson, T.J.G., Rybak, K., Parker, K., Lowe, R.G.T., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Structural characterisation of the interaction between Triticum aestivum and the dothideomycete pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. European Journal of Plant Pathology 114: 275-282.

Solomon, P.S., Lowe, R.G.T., Tan, K.-C., Waters, O.D.C. and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Stagonospora nodorum; cause of Septoria nodorum blotch of wheat. Molecular Plant Pathology 7: 147-156.

Friesen, T.L., Stukenbrock, E.H., Liu, Z., Meinhardt, S., Ling, H., Faris, J.D., Rasmussen, J.B., Solomon, P.S., McDonald, B.A., and Oliver, R.P. (2006) Horizontal transfer of a fungal virulence gene controlling host specificity. Nature Genetics 38: 953-956.

 

2005

Solomon, P.S., Waters, O.D.C., Simmonds, J., Cooper, R.M., and Oliver, R.P. (2005) The Mak2 MAP kinase signal transduction pathway is required for pathogenicity in Stagonospora nodorum. Current Genetics 48: 60-68.

Solomon, P.S., Tan, K.-C., and Oliver, R.P. (2005) Mannitol 1-phosphate metabolism is required for sporulation in planta of the wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 18: 110-115.

 

2004

Solomon, P.S., Tan, K.-C., Sanchez, P., Cooper, R.M., and Oliver, R.P. (2004) The disruption of a G-alpha subunit sheds new light on the pathogenicity of Stagonospora nodorum on wheat. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 17: 456-466.

Solomon, P.S., Parker, K., Loughman, R., and Oliver, R.P. (2004) Both mating types of Phaeosphaeria (anamorph Stagonospora) nodorum are present in Western Australia. European Journal of Plant Pathology 110: 763-766.

Solomon, P.S., and Oliver, R.P. (2004) Functional characterisation of glyoxalase I from the fungal wheat pathogen Stagonospora nodorum. Current Genetics 46: 115-121.

Solomon, P.S., Lee, R.C., Wilson, T.J.G., and Oliver, R.P. (2004) Pathogenicity of Stagonospora nodorum requires malate synthase. Molecular Microbiology 53: 1065-1073.

Oliver, R.P., and Solomon, P.S. (2004) Does the oxidative stress used by plants for defence provide a source of nutrients for pathogenic fungi? Trends in Plant Science 9: 472-473.

Links:

 

 

http://www.metabolomics.net.au

 

 

 

http://www.bioplatforms.com

 

 

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