Selected Publications

Plant Cells in red and green
  • Singh, A., G. Li, A.B. Brohammer, D. Jarquin, C.N. Hirsch, J.R. Alfano, and A.J. Lorenz. 2019. Genome-wide association and gene co-expression network analyses reveal 2 complex genetics of resistance to Goss’s wilt of maize. G3 g3. 400347.2019. pdf

  • Chang, M., J. Zhao, H. Chen, G. Li, J. Chen, M. Li, I.A. Palmer, J. Song, J.R. Alfano, F. Liu, and Z.Q. Fu. 2019. PBS3 protects EDS1 from proteasome-mediated degradation in plant immunity. Mol. Plant 12: 678-688. pdf

  • Yang, F., A.N. Kimberlin, C.G. Elowsky, Y. Liu, A. Gonzalez-Solis, E.B. Cahoon, and J.R. Alfano. 2019. A plant immune receptor degraded by selective autophagy. Mol Plant, 12: 113-123. pdf

  • Ma, W., L. Zou, Z. Ji, X. Xu, Y. Yang, J.R. Alfano, and G. Chen. 2018. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae TALE proteins recruit OsTFIIAy1 to compensate for the absence of OsTFIIAy5 in bacterial blight in rice. Mol. Plant Pathol.  DOI: 10.1111/mpp. 12696. pdf
  • Wu, J., A. van der Burgh, G. Bi, L. Zhang, J.R. Alfano, G. Martin, and M.H.A.J. Joosten. 2018. The bacterial effector AvrPto targets the regulatory co-receptor SOBIR1 and suppresses defence signalling mediated by the receptor-like protein Cf-4. MPMI, 31: 75-85. pdf
  • Medina, C.A., P.A. Reyes, C.A. Trujillo, J.L. Gonzalez, D.A. Bejarano, N.A. Montenegro, J.M. Jacobs, A. Joe, S. Restrepo, J.R. Alfano, and A. Bernal. 2018. The role of type III effectors from Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Manihotis in virulence and suppression of plant immunity. Mol. Plant Pathol. 19: 593-606. pdf
  • Chen, H., J. Chen, M. Li, M. Chang, K. Xu, Z. Shang, Y. Zhao, I. Palmer, Y. Zhang, J. McGill, J.R. Alfano, M.T. Nishimura, F. Liu, and Z.Q. Fu. 2017. A bacterial type III effector targets the master regulator of salicylic acid signaling NPR1, to subvert plant immunity. Cell Host & Microbe, 22: 777-788. pdf
  • T. Shindo, F. Kaschani, F. Yang, J. Kovács, F. Tian, J. Kourelis, T. N. Hong, T. Colby, M. Shabab, R. Chawla, S. Kumari, M. Ilyas, A.C. Hörger, J.R. Alfano, and R.A.L. van der Hoorn. 2016. Screen of Non-annotated Small Secreted Proteins of Pseudomonas syringae Reveals a Virulence Factor That Inhibits Tomato Immune Proteases. PLOS Pathog. 12: e1005874. pdf

  • Li, L., P. Kim, L. Yu, G. Cai, S. Chen, J.R. Alfano, and J.-M. Zhou. 2016. Activation-dependent destruction of a co-receptor by a Pseudomonas syringae effector dampens plant immunity. Cell Host & Microbe. 20: 504-514. pdf

  • Guo, M., P. Kim, G. Li, C.G. Elowsky, and J.R. Alfano. 2016. A bacterial effector Co-opts calmodulin to target the plant microtubule network. Cell Host & Microbe. 19: 67-78. pdf F1000Prime Recommended

  • Zhang, L., J.R. Alfano, and D.F. Becker. 2015. Proline metabolism increases katG expression and oxidative stress resistance in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 197: 431-440. pdf

  • Li, G., J.E. Froehlich, C. Elowsky, J. Msanne, A.C. Ostosh, C. Zhang, T. Awada, and J.R. Alfano. 2014. Distinct Pseudomonas type III effectors utilize a cleavable transit peptide to target chloroplasts. Plant J. 77: 310-321. pdf

  • Block, A., T.Y. Toruno, C. G. Elowsky, C. Zhang, J. Steinbrenner, J. Beynon, and J.R. Alfano. 2014. The Pseudomonas syringae type III effector HopD1 suppresses effector-triggered immunity, localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, and targets the Arabidopsis transcription factor NTL9. New Phytol. 201: 1358-1370. pdf

  • Misas-Villamil, J.C., I. Kolodziejek, E. Crabill, F. Kaschani, S. Niessen, M. Kaiser, J.R. Alfano, and R.A.L. van der Hoorn. 2013. Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae uses a proteasome inhibitor to provide host entry at wound infection sites and colonize adjacent tissues. PLOS Pathog. 9: e1003281. pdf

  • Nicaise*, V., A. Joe*, B.-r. Jeong, C. Korneli, F. Boutrot, I. Westedt, D. Staiger, J.R. Alfano+, and C. Zipfel+. 2013. Pseudomonas HopU1 affects interaction of plant immune receptor mRNAs to the RNA-binding protein GRP7. EMBO 32: 701-712.
    *Co-first authors; Co-corresponding authors. pdf F1000Prime Recommended

  • Guo, M., A. Block, C.D. Bryan, D.F. Becker, and J.R. Alfano. 2012. Pseudomonas syringae catalases are collectively required for plant pathogenesis. J. Bacteriol. 194: 5054-5064. pdf

  • Crabill, E., A. Karpisek, and J.R. Alfano. 2012. The Pseudomonas syringae HrpJ protein controls the secretion of type III translocator proteins and has a virulence role inside plant cells. Mol. Microbiol. 85: 224-238. pdf

  • Jeong, B.-r., Y. Lin, A. Joe, M. Guo, C. Korneli, H. Yang, P. Wang, M. Yu, R.L. Cerny, D. Staiger, J.R. Alfano*, and Yanhui Xu*. 2011. Structure function analysis of an ADP-ribosyltransferase type III effector and its RNA-binding target in plant immunity. J. Biol. Chem. 286:43272-43281.
    *Co-corresponding authors pdf

  • Block, A., and J.R. Alfano. 2011. Plant targets and Pseudomonas syringae type III effectors: virulence targets or guarded decoys? Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 14:39-46. pdf

  • Mavrodi, D.V., A. Joe, O.V. Mavrodi, K.A. Hassan, D.M. Weller, I.T. Paulsen, J.E. Loper, J.R. Alfano, and L.S. Thomashow. 2011. Structural and functional analysis of the type III secretion system from Pseudomonas fluorescens Q8r1-96. J. Bacteriol. 193: 177-189. pdf

  • Qi, Y., K. Tsuda, A. Joe, M. Sato, L.V. Nguyen, J. Glazebrook, J.R. Alfano, J.D. Cohen, and F. Katagiri. 2010. A putative RNA-binding protein positively regulates salicylic acid-mediated immunity in Arabidopsis. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 23: 1573-1583. pdf

  • Crabill, E., A. Joe, A. Block, J.M. van Rooyen and J.R. Alfano. 2010. Plant immunity directly or indirectly restricts the injection of type III effectors by the Pseudomonas syringae type III secretion system. Plant Physiol. 154: 233-244. pdf

  • Block, A., M. Guo, G. Li, C. Elowsky, T. E. Clemente, and J.R. Alfano. 2010. The Pseudomonas syringae type III effector HopG1 targets mitochondria, alters plant development, and suppresses plant innate immunity. Cell. Microbiol. 12:318-330. pdf

  • Walton, J.D., T.J. Avis, J.R. Alfano, M. Gijzen, P. Spanu, K. Hammond-Kosack, F. Sánchez. 2009. Effectors, effectors et encore des effectors: The XIV International Congress on Molecular-Plant Microbe Interactions, Quebec. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 22: 1479-1483. pdf

  • Alfano, J.R. 2009. Roadmap for future research on plant pathogen effectors. Mol. Plant. Pathol. 10: 805-813. pdf

  • Guo, M., F. Tian, Y. Wamboldt, and J.R. Alfano. 2009. The majority of the type III effector inventory of Pseudomonas syrinage pv. tomato DC3000 can suppress plant immunity. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 22: 1069-1080. pdf

  • Jeong, B-r., K. van Dijk, and J.R. Alfano. 2009. Pseudomonas syringae type III-secreted proteins and their activities and effects on plant innate immunity. Annu. Plant Reviews. 34: 48-76.

  • Streitner, C., S. Danisman, F. Wehrle, J.C. Schoining, J.R. Alfano, and D. Staiger. 2008. The small glycine-rich RNA-binding protein AtGRP7 promotes floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 56: 239-250. pdf

  • Block, A., G. Li, Z. Q. Fu, and J.R. Alfano. 2008. Phytopathogen type III effector weaponry and their plant targets. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 396-403. pdf

  • Alvarez-Venegas, R., A.A. Abdallat, M. Guo, J.R. Alfano, and Z. Avramova. 2007. Epigenetic control of a transcription factor at the cross section of two antagonistic pathways. Epigenetics 2: 106-113. pdf

  • Wei, C.-F., B.H. Kvitko, R. Shimizu, E. Crabill, J.R. Alfano, N.-C. Lin, G.B. Martin, H.-C. Huang, A. Collmer. 2007. A Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 mutant lacking the type III effector HopQ1-1 is able to cause disease in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant J. 51: 32-46. pdf

  • Fu, Z.Q., M. Guo, B. -r. Jeong, F. Tian, T. E. Elthon, R.L. Cerny, D. Staiger, and J. R. Alfano. 2007. A type III effector ADP-ribosylates RNA-binding proteins and quells plant immunity. Nature 447: 284-288. pdf F1000Prime Recommended

  • Vencato, M., F. Tian, J. R. Alfano, C. R. Buell, S. Cartinhour, G. A. DeClerck, D. S. Guttman, J. Stavrinides, V. Joardar, M. Lindeberg, P. A. Bronstein, J. W. Mansfield, C. R. Myers, A. Collmer, and D. J. Schneider. 2006. Bioinformatics-enabled identification of the HrpL regulon and type III secretion system effector proteins of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola 1448A. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 19: 1193-1206. pdf

  • Fereirra, A.O., C.R. Myers, J.S. Gordon, G.B. Martin, M. Vencato, Alan Collmer, M.D. Wehling, J.R. Alfano, G. Moreno-Hagelsieb, W.F. Lamboy, G. DeClerck, D.J. Schneider, and S.W. Cartinhour. 2006. Whole-genome expression profiling defines the HrpL regulon of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, allows de novo reconstruction of the Hrp cis element, and identifies novel co-regulated genes. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 19: 1167-1179. pdf

  • Fu, Z.Q., M. Guo, and J.R. Alfano. 2006. The Pseudomonas syringae HrpJ is a type III-secreted protein that is required for plant pathogenesis, injection of effectors, and for secretion of the HrpZ1 harpin. J. Bacteriol. 188: 6060-6069. pdf

  • Guo, M., S.T. Chancey, F. Tain, Z. Ge, Y. Jamir, and J.R. Alfano. 2005. Pseudomonas syringae type III chaperones ShcO1, ShcS1, and ShcS2 facilitate translocation of their cognate effectors and can substitute for each other in the secretion of HopO1-1. J. Bacteriol.187: 4257-4269. pdf

  • Lindeberg, M., J. Stavrinides, J. H. Chang, J. R. Alfano, A. Collmer, J. L. Dangl, J. T. Greenberg, J. W. Mansfield, and D. S. Guttman. 2005. Proposed guidelines for a unified nomenclature and phylogenetic analysis of type III Hop effector proteins in the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 18: 275-282. pdf

  • Petnicki-Ocwieja, T., K. van Dijk, and J. R. Alfano. The hrpK operon of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 encodes two proteins secreted by the type III (Hrp) protein secretion system: HopB1 and HrpK, a putative type III translocator. 2005. J. Bacteriol. 187: 649-663. pdf

  • Espinosa, A., and J. R. Alfano. 2004. Disabling surveillance: Bacterial type III secretion system effectors that suppress innate immunity. Cell. Microbiol. 6: 1027-1040. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., and A. Collmer. 2004. Type III secretion system effector proteins: Double agents in bacterial disease and plant defense. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 42:385-414. pdf

  • Wehling, M. D., M. Guo, Z. Q. Fu, and J. R. Alfano. 2004. The Pseudomonas syringae HopPtoV protein is secreted in culture and translocated into plant cells via the type III protein secretion system in a manner dependent on the ShcV type III chaperone. J. Bacteriol. 186: 3621-3630. pdf

  • Shan, L., H. -S. Oh, M. Guo, J. Zhou, J. R. Alfano, A. Collmer, and X. Tang. 2004. The hopPtoF locus of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 encodes a type III chaperone and a cognate effector. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 17: 447-455. pdf

  • He, P., S. Chintamanani, Z. Chen, L. Zhu, B. N. Kunkel, J. R. Alfano, X. Tang, and J. -M. Zhou. 2004. Activation of a Coi1-dependent pathway in Arabidopsis by Pseudomonas syringae type III effectors and coronatine. Plant J. 37: 589-602. pdf

  • Jamir, Y., M. Guo, H. -S. Oh, T. Petnicki-Ocwieja, S. Chen, X. Tang, M. B. Dickman, A. Collmer, and J. R. Alfano. 2004. Identification of Pseudomonas syringae type III effectors that can suppress programmed cell death in plants and yeast. Plant J. 37: 554-565. pdf F1000Prime Recommended

  • Ham, J. H., Y. Y. Cui, J. R. Alfano, P. Rodriguez-Palenzuela, C. M. Rojas, A. K. Chatterjee, and A. Collmer. 2004. Analysis of Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 pelE::uidA, pelL::uidA, and hrpN::uidA mutants: Importance of PelE in virulence and atypical regulation of HrpN. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 17:184-194. pdf

  • Schechter, L. M., K. A. Roberts, Y. Jamir, J. R. Alfano, and A. Collmer. 2004. Pseudomonas syringae type III secretion system targeting signals and novel effectors studied with a Cya translocation reporter. J. Bacteriol. 186:543-555. pdf

  • Chatterjee, A., Y. Cui, H. Yang, A. Collmer, J. R. Alfano, and A. K. Chatterjee. 2003. GacA, the response regulator of a two-component system, acts as a master regulator in Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae DC3000 by controlling regulatory RNA, transcriptional activators, and alternate sigma factors. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 16:1106-1117. pdf

  • Buell, C. R., et. al. 2003. The complete sequence of the Arabidopsis and tomato pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100:10181-10186. pdf

  • Espinosa, A., M. Guo, V. C. Tam, Z. Q. Fu, and J. R. Alfano. 2003. The Pseudomonas syringae type III-secreted protein HopPtoD2 possesses protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and suppresses programmed cell death in plants. Mol. Microbiol. 49: 377-397. pdf

  • Collmer, A., M. Lindeberg, T. Petnicki-Ocwieja, D.J. Schneider, and J.R. Alfano. 2002. Genome mining type III secretion system effectors in Pseudomonas syringae yields new picks for all TTSS prospectors. Trends Microbiol. 10: 462-469. pdf

  • van Dijk, K., V. C. Tam, A. R. Records, T. Petnicki-Ocwieja, and J. R. Alfano. 2002. The ShcA protein is a molecular chaperone that assists in the secretion of the HopPsyA effector from the type III (Hrp) protein secretion system of Pseudomonas syringae. Mol. Microbiol. 44: 1469-1481. pdf

  • Petnicki-Ocwieja, T., D. J. Schneider, V. C. Tam, S. T. Chancey, L. Shan, Y. Jamir, L. M. Schechter, C. R. Buell. X. Tang, A. Collmer, and J. R. Alfano. 2002. Genomewide identification of proteins secreted by the Hrp type III protein secretion system of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 99: 7652-7657. pdf

  • Fouts, D.E., R.B. Abramovitch, J.R. Alfano, A. M. Baldo, C.R. Buell, S. Cartinhour, A.K. Chatterjee, M. D'Ascenzo, M.L. Gwinn, S.G. Lazarowitz, N.-C. Lin, G.B. MArtin, A.H. Rehm, D. J. Schneider, K. van Dijk, X. Tang, A. Collmer. 2002. Genome-wide identification of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 promoters controlled by the HrpL-alternative sigma factor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 99: 2775-2280. pdf

  • Collmer, A., J. L. Badel, A. O. Charkowski, W. L. Deng, D. E. Fouts, A. R. Ramos, A. H. Rehm, D. M. Anderson, O. Schneewind, K. van Dijk, and J. R. Alfano. 2000. Pseudomonas syringae Hrp type III secretion system and effector proteins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 97: 8770-8777. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., A. O. Charkowski, W. -L. Deng, T. Petnicki, K. van Dijk, and A. Collmer. 2000. The Pseudomonas syringae Hrp pathogenicity island has a tripartite mosaic structure comprised of a cluster of type III genes bounded by an exchangeable effector and conserved effector loci that contribute to parasitic fitness and pathogenicity in plants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 97:4856-4861. pdf

  • van Dijk, K., D. E. Fouts, A. H. Rehm, A. R. Hill, A. Collmer, and J. R. Alfano 1999. The Avr (effector) proteins HrmA (HopPsyA) and AvrPto are secreted in culture from Pseudomonas syringae pathovars via the Hrp (type III) protein secretion system in a temperature and pH sensitive manner. J. Bacteriol. 181:4790-4797. pdf

  • Kim J. F., A. O. Charkowski, J. R. Alfano, A. Collmer, and S. V. Beer. 1998. Transposable elements and bacteriophage sequences flanking Pseudomonas syringae avirulence genes. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 11: 1247-1252. pdf

  • Charkowski*, A. O., J. R. Alfano*, G. Preston, J. Yuan, S. Y. He, and A. Collmer. 1998. The Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato HrpW protein has domains similar to harpins and pectate lyases and can elicit the plant hypersensitive response and bind to pectate. J. Bacteriol. 180: 5211-5217.
    *A. O. Charkowski and J. R. Alfano contributed equally to this manuscript. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., H. -S. Kim, T. P. Delaney, and A. Collmer. 1997. Evidence that the Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae hrp-linked hrmA gene encodes an Avr-like protein that acts in an hrp-dependent manner within tobacco cells. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 10: 580-588. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., and A. Collmer. 1997. The type III (Hrp) secretion pathway of plant pathogenic bacteria: Trafficking harpins, Avr proteins, and death. J. Bacteriol. 179: 5655-5662. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., and A. Collmer. 1996. Bacterial pathogens in plants: Life up against the wall. Plant Cell 8: 1683-1698. pdf

  • Gopalan, S., D. W. Bauer, J. R. Alfano, A. O. Loniello, S. Y. He, and A. Collmer. 1996. Expression of the Pseudomonas syringae avirulence protein AvrB in plant cells alleviates its dependence on the hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (Hrp) secretion system in eliciting genotype-specific hypersensitive cell death. Plant Cell 8: 1095-1105. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., D. W. Bauer, T. M. Milos, and A. Collmer. 1996. Analysis of the role of the Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae HrpZ harpin in elicitation of the hypersensitive response in tobacco using functionally nonpolar hrpZ deletion mutants, truncated HrpZ fragments, and hrmA mutations. Mol. Microbiol. 19: 715-728. pdf

  • Alfano, J. R., J. H. Ham, and A. Collmer. 1995. Use of Tn5tac1 to clone a pel gene encoding a highly alkaline, asparagine-rich pectate lyase isozyme from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 mutant with deletions affecting the major pectate lyase isozymes. J. Bacteriol. 177: 4553-4556. pdf