The long term research interest of this group is molecular plant and microbe interactions. We currently focus on the resistance mechanisms mediated by the barley MLA proteins against powdery mildew. The highly polymorphic Mla locus encodes CC-NB-LRR type R proteins, each recognizes distinct B. graminis avirulent fungal effector and triggers cell-death responses. We are interested in how MLA mediates AvrMLA recognition, what are the signaling networks integrated into the resistance processes, and what are the potential nuclear targets of MLA, etc. Integrated genetics, biochemistry and cell biology approaches will be adopted to address above questions.