Research Highlight

In our new PLoS One paper, we show that members of the HopZ family of type III secreted effectors are able to suppress aspects of host immunity, and require their catalytic activity to do so. Some members suppress the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades or the production of reactive oxygen species, while all can promote the growth of non-virulent Pseudomonas syringae. As well, four of the HopZ are membrane-associated while one is primarily nuclear, suggesting that the immunosuppressive strategies have diversified.