Research

Our laboratory is dedicated to developing innovative technologies, including translational control, targeted protein condensate degradation, endophyte engineering, and their integration with artificial intelligence. We are particularly interested in how disease resistance and disease tolerance—two fundamental immune strategies in plants—act in coordination. Our research is centered on two conceptual frameworks. The first is the Bio-triangle (plant–pathogen–endophyte), which describes the dynamic interactions among plants, pathogens, and endophytic microbes. The second is the Trait-triangle (defense–yield–quality), which aims to achieve coordinated optimization among immunity, productivity, and crop quality to meet the global demand for more and healthier food.

In parallel, we explore the translational potential of plant systems as platforms for cross-disciplinary innovation. We aim to establish a plant model–driven paradigm for human therapeutic development and bioproduction, using plants as rapid systems for strategy development and validation. Specifically, our efforts include: (1) developing plant-based models for the rapid iteration and validation of targeted protein condensate degradation strategies, enabling systematic optimization of key degradation modules and facilitating their translation toward human drug development; (2) establishing gene expression control frameworks based on translational control elements, enabling precise control of mRNA and AAV expression in human gene therapy, as well as efficient production of therapeutic proteins in plant systems.

Keywords

Immune strategies; Disease tolerance; Disease resistance; Growth–defense trade-offs; Disease symptoms; Plant immunity; Tissue damage control; Effector-triggered immunity; Hypersensitive cell death; Necrotrophic diseases; Rhizoctonia solani; Endoplasmic reticulum; ER–autophagy interplay; Membraneless organelles; Phase separation; Protein condensation; RNA regulatory elements; 5′-leader; Upstream open reading frames (uORFs); Translational control; Translation efficiency; Translational homeostasis; mRNA annotation; RNA-binding proteins; Ribosome profiling; TRIBE-mediated RNA editing; Rational engineering; Targeted protein-condensate degradation; Microbiome; Endophytes; Genetically modified endophytes; Human diseases

主要研究概述

我们实验室致力于开发新技术，包括翻译调控、蛋白质团聚体靶向降解、内生菌遗传赋能及其与人工智能的结合。主要研究植物耐病性与抗病性两种免疫策略的协同作用，解析两个生物学问题：一是“生物三角关系”（Bio-triangle：plant–pathogen–endophyte），即植物、病原体与内生菌之间的动态互作；二是“性状三角关系”（Trait-triangle: defense–yield–quality），旨在在免疫力、产量和品质之间实现协调优化，以应对全球对更多、更健康粮食的需求。

在此基础上，我们进一步拓展植物体系在跨界转化中的应用潜力，探索以植物作为快速研发与验证平台，构建“植物模型驱动的人类药物开发与生产”新路径。具体包括：（1）构建用于蛋白质团聚体靶向降解策略快速迭代与验证的植物模型，实现关键降解模块的系统优化，并推动相关策略向人类新药研发体系的转化；（2）构建基于翻译调控元件的基因表达控制框架，为人类基因治疗中mRNA和AAV的表达调控，以及治疗性蛋白在植物中的高效生产提供控制策略。