We are interested in understanding how plants defend themselves against pathogens. We study the HopZ family of type III effector proteins from Pseudomonas syringae and the immune responses they elicit in plant hosts. We use many different techniques to investigate plant immunity, including genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, high-throughput screens, and next-generation sequencing. Our long-term goals are to understand the molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, and to identify strategies for durable resistance in plants. We are a collaborative group of scientists who are committed to creativity, curiosity and excellence in science, training the next generation of scientists, and fostering a diverse inclusive welcoming environment that values all people.
The Lewis Lab is located at the Plant Gene Expression Center (PGEC) in Albany, California and is part of a unique collaboration between the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture and the Plant and Microbial Biology Department at the University of California, Berkeley.
