Léa Monge Waleryszak

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Education

After a Bachelor in Biology of Organisms, Populations & Ecosystems, that gives an integrated view of biological mechanisms, I specialized in molecular biology with a MSc in Plants Adaptation, Development & Improvement in presence of Microorganisms.

Research Overview

I first studied the regulation of nodule organogenesis with the Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago truncatula system, under supervision of Dr. Andreas Niebel.

I then decided to focus on phytopathogenic interactions and obtained a grant to develop my PhD project with Dr. Laurent Deslandes (group leader, PhD co-supervisor) and Dr. Valerie Pacquit (senior lecturer, PhD co-supervisor). During my PhD, was interested in finding out more about virulence strategies of bacterial effectors. I used in planta proximity labeling to assess the proximal proteome of PopP2, well characterized effector from Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, and XopJ6, newly identified effector from Xanthomonas campestris. PopP2 and XopJ6 are close homologs. They share an acetyltransferase activity and the ability to target WRKY transcription factors to dampen basal immunity. With their in host proximal proteomes identified, in Arabidopsis thaliana, we gain a global view of the effectors environment, the biological processes they potentially subvert and the components they could target. Through characterization of the potential targets, we will shed light on both specific and shared virulence strategies between the two effectors and the two vascular pathogenic bacteria.