Investigating the host cellular changes associated with plant colonisation by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

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Quime, Berlaine (2025) Investigating the host cellular changes associated with plant colonisation by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Rice blast disease, caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, significantly impacts rice production worldwide. Key advances in understanding infection processes, such as appressorium formation and host cell entry, have been made through molecular genetics and genomics, with recent insights into the Pmk1-dependent phosphorylation landscape and temporal shifts in fungal gene expression. Despite these advances, gaps remain in understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of fungal invasion. This thesis addresses these gaps by exploring cellular organisation changes in rice during M. oryzae infection. Transgenic rice lines expressing GFP-tagged markers for various organelles were developed, enabling the study of plasma membrane organisation, actin dynamics, and the formation of the biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC) during blast infection. Live-cell imaging results provide evidence that fungal infection led to the development of an extra-invasive hyphal membrane (EIHM) to facilitate invasion and actively alters host plasma membrane integrity, leading to a mosaic pattern of cell death and viability. Actin cytoskeleton remodelling is crucial for fungal invasion, as it supports the formation of EIHM and BICs. The study also quantifies the net increase in plasma membrane during infection, highlighting the role of host membrane biogenesis in supporting invasive hyphal growth. This research sheds light on the host cellular changes induced by M. oryzae infection and offers a valuable resource of transgenic rice lines for future studies of host-pathogen interactions. Ultimately, this work is a significant advance in the development of a spatiotemporal atlas of cellular changes during fungal colonisation, which could inform strategies to combat rice blast disease.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Chris White
Date Deposited: 11 Feb 2026 10:59
Last Modified: 11 Feb 2026 10:59
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101909
DOI:

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