Prof. Jian Ye, a researcher at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, will deliver a seminar titled «Engineering Plant Immunity: From Molecular Mechanisms to AI-Driven Strategies for Citrus Huanglongbing Control».
Prof. Ye's work focuses on plant immunity, plant–pathogen–insect interactions, and innovative biotechnology approaches for crop protection. His recent research, published in journals including Science, Science Advances, and Nature Communications, has uncovered key molecular mechanisms regulating plant resistance to insect vectors and Huanglongbing (HLB).
He has identified the PUB21–MYC2 regulatory pathway as a critical determinant of citrus susceptibility to HLB. Furthermore, he has demonstrated the potential of AI-designed bioactive peptides to enhance disease resistance and disrupt pathogen–vector interactions, as well as the role of PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensing in plant immunity.
The seminar will explore how these discoveries, along with advances in artificial intelligence, gene editing, and synthetic biology, are opening new avenues for sustainable, precision crop protection.
The event is organized within the framework of the PROMETEO-INTEGRANT project.
