The plant apoplast is the interface where plants and microbes interplay by secreting molecules determinant for the establishment of a plant – microbe interaction. Plants secrete proteases into the apoplast that can cleave and recognize substrates, from plant or microbe origin, generating signalling components necessary for the activation of plant immunity. On the other side, microbes can secrete inhibitors or other molecules to avoid recognition. I am interested in studying the role of proteases in plant immunity and the interplay between proteases and inhibitors at the plant – microbe interface.
