Dr Edgar Huitema

Eukaryotic pathogens like Phytophthora capsici and Claviceps purpurea cause diseases on important crops. Understanding their means by which they cause disease and incite losses is key improving crop productivity. Our research focuses on PcNMRAL1, a conserved transcriptional regulator in P. capsici that extends the infection cycle by altering stage-specific gene expression. We hypothesise that PcNMRAL1 integrates metabolic signals to control the switch from biotrophy to necrotrophy during infection. By understanding how PcNMRAL1 integrates signals to regulate infection, we aim to develop novel strategies for disease control, including targeted chemicals and crop improvement.

Understanding the biology of Claviceps purpurea infection of Barley and the subsequent production of mycotoxins, is another area of research in our group. C. purpurea (ergot) is a broad host range pathogen that can infect most grasses and cereal crops, and produce toxins that are detrimental to human and animal health. By sampling ergot from across the UK, and characterising a growing strain collection in the lab, we aim to understand the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to disease and grain contamination.

Selected Publications

1. Liu, S., Lenoir, C., Amaro, T., Rodriguez, P., Huitema, E.§, and Bos, J.§ (2022). Virulence strategies of an insect herbivore and oomycete plant pathogen converge on host E3 SUMO ligase SIZ1. New Phytologist, 235(4), 1599 - 1614

2. Stam, R., Motion, G. B., Martinez-Heredia, V., Boevink, P. C., & Huitema, E.§ (2021). A conserved oomycete CRN effector targets tomato TCP14-2 to enhance virulence. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact., 34(3), pp 309-318.. 

3. Thilliez, G.J., Armstrong, M.R., Lim, T.Y., Baker, K., Jouet, A., Ward, B., Van Oosterhout, C., Jones, J.D., Huitema, E., Birch, P.R. and Hein, I., (2019). Pathogen enrichment sequencing (PenSeq) enables population genomic studies in oomycetes. New Phytologist. 221(3), pp.1634-48. 

4. Pham, J., Stam, R., Heredia, V. M., Csukai, M. and Huitema, E.§ (2018). An NMRA-like protein regulates gene expression in Phytophthora capsici to drive the infection cycle on tomato. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 31(6). 665 - 677. PubMed PMID: 29419371. 

5. Amaro, T. M. M., Thilliez, G. J. A., Mcleod, R. A. & Huitema, E.§ (2017). Random mutagenesis screen shows that Phytophthora capsici CRN83_152 mediated cell death is not required for its virulence function(s). Molecular Plant Pathology. 19(5). 1114 - 1126.

6. Howden, A. J. M., Stam, R., Martinez Heredia, V., Motion, G. B., Hodge, K., ten Have, S., Amaro, T. M. M. M. & Huitema, E.§ (2017). Quantitative analysis of the tomato nuclear proteome during Phytophthora capsici infection unveils regulators of immunity. New Phytologist. 215(1). 309 - 322. 

7. Motion GB, Howden AJ, Huitema E§. & Jones S§ (2015). DNA-binding protein prediction using plant specific support vector machines: validation and application of a new genome annotation tool. Nucleic Acids Res. 2015 Dec 15;43(22):e158. 

8. Stam, R., Howden, A. J. M., Delgado-Cerezo, M., Amaro, T. M. M. M., Motion, G. B., Pham, J. and Huitema, E.§ (2013). Characterisation of cell death inducing Phytophthora capsici CRN effectors suggests diverse activities in the host nucleus. Front. in Pl. Sci. 4(11) 387. (doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00387) 

9. Jupe, J., Stam, R., Howden, A. J. M., Morris, J. A., Zhang, R., Hedley, P. E. & Huitema, E§. (2013) Phytophthora capsici-tomato interaction features dramatic shifts in gene expression associated with a hemi-biotrophic lifestyle. Gen. Biol. 14:R63 (doi:10.1186/gb-2013-14-6-r63). 

10. Stam, R., Jupe, J., Howden, A. J. M., Morris, J. A., Boevink, P. C., Hedley, P. E. & Huitema, E. (2013) Identification and Characterisation CRN Effectors in Phytophthora capsici Shows Modularity and Functional Diversity PLoS ONE. 8, 3, 13 p., e59517

§ Lead / Corresponding Author

People in my lab

• Rafael Monteiro Do Carmo
• Dylan Penlington

• Contributor to BS31005 - Level 3 Genetics (2020-present)
• Academic Lead BS32012 - Plant Sciences Practical course (2013-2025)