Fungal pathogens deploy a set of molecules (proteins, specialized metabolites, and sRNAs),
so-called effectors, to aid the infection process. In comparison to other plant pathogens, smut …

Biotrophic fungal plant pathogens establish an intimate relationship with their host to support
the infection process. Central to this strategy is the secretion of a range of protein effectors …

Smut fungi are a large group of biotrophic plant pathogens that infect mostly monocot
species, including economically relevant cereal crops. For years, Ustilago maydis has stood …

The Ustilago maydis–maize pathosystem has emerged as the current model for plant
pathogenic basidiomycetes and as one of the few models for a true biotrophic interaction …

Plant pathogens secrete a variety of effector proteins that enable host colonization but are
also typical pathogen detection targets for the host immune system. Consequently, effector …

How does the invading fungus control its host? U. maydis had millions of years to co-evolve
with its host plant,'learning'which metabolic nodes and signaling cascades need to be …

Fungal pathogens are an enormous threat to plants, causing tremendous losses in
worldwide crop production. A mechanistic understanding of fungal virulence is crucial to …

In contrast to most biotrophic plant pathogens, smut fungi belonging to the family of
Ustilaginaceae are facultative parasites that have a yeastlike, saprophytic phase contrasting …

In the genome of the biotrophic plant pathogen Ustilago maydis, many of the genes coding
for secreted protein effectors modulating virulence are arranged in gene clusters. The vast …

The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis secretes a plethora of uncharacterized effector
proteins and causes smut disease in maize. Among the effector genes that are up-regulated …