Effector biology and immunometabolic (re)programming: Microbial strategies for compatibility

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Plant health relies on balancing immune defense and microbial accommodation, especially in roots.
• Classical leaf-based immunity models are insufficient for understanding complex root spatial and metabolic interactions.
• Root defense is localized, preventing excessive immunity that could harm root development or beneficial microbes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the emerging field of plant immunometabolism, integrating immunity and metabolism in roots.
• To highlight the role of microbial effectors and host factors in modulating plant-microbe interactions.
• To discuss how infochemicals coordinate immune-metabolic states and shape root microbiome composition.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual review integrating existing research on plant immunity, metabolism, and microbial ecology.
• Analysis of molecular mechanisms including host transporters, microbial effectors, and signaling metabolites.
• Examination of conserved regulatory axes like purine signaling and iron-mediated redox exchanges.

Main Results:

• Root immunometabolism integrates host defense and microbial interactions, distinct from leaf immunity.
• Microbial effectors reprogram host pathways, influencing compatibility and plant health.
• Infochemicals, such as purine derivatives and iron, are key regulators of root immune-metabolic states and microbiome assembly.

Conclusions:

• Plant immunometabolism is a critical frontier for understanding root-microbe interactions.
• Cross-kingdom principles of immunometabolism offer potential for predictive microbiome engineering.
• Understanding root immunometabolism is essential for optimizing plant health and microbiome composition.