@article{jeong_mitchell_dean_2007, title={The Magnaporthe grisea snodprot1 homolog, MSPI, is required for virulence}, volume={273}, ISSN={["1574-6968"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00796.x}, abstractNote={Secreted proteins play central roles in plant-microbe interactions acting as signals, toxins, and effectors. One important group of small secreted proteins is the snodprot1 family, members of which have demonstrated phytotoxic properties. A split-marker transformation system was applied for gene deletion of the snodprot1 homolog, MSP1, in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea. msp1 mutants were phenotypically indistinguishable from wild type and elaborated apparently normal appressoria. However, the deletion mutants were greatly reduced in virulence primarily due to impaired growth in planta. Western blot analysis showed that the protein was secreted and not associated with the fungal cell wall. When purified MSP1 protein was applied to wounded leaf tissue, no apparent phytotoxic effects were noted. This is the first report to the authors' knowledge that directly implicates a snodprot1 protein as a virulence factor.}, number={2}, journal={FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS}, author={Jeong, Jun Seop and Mitchell, Thomas K. and Dean, Ralph A.}, year={2007}, month={Aug}, pages={157–165} }
 @article{donofrio_oh_lundy_pan_brown_jeong_coughlan_mitchell_dean_2006, title={Global gene expression during nitrogen starvation in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea}, volume={43}, ISSN={["1087-1845"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fgb.2006.03.005}, abstractNote={Efficient regulation of nitrogen metabolism likely plays a role in the ability of fungi to exploit ecological niches. To learn about regulation of nitrogen metabolism in the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe grisea, we undertook a genome-wide analysis of gene expression under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Five hundred and twenty genes showed increased transcript levels at 12 and 48 h after shifting the fungus to media lacking nitrate as a nitrogen source. Thirty-nine of these genes have putative functions in amino acid metabolism and uptake, and include the global nitrogen regulator in M. grisea, NUT1. Evaluation of seven nitrogen starvation-induced genes revealed that all were expressed during rice infection. Targeted gene replacement on one such gene, the vacuolar serine protease, SPM1, resulted in decreased sporulation and appressorial development as well as a greatly attenuated ability to cause disease. Data are discussed in the context of nitrogen metabolism under starvation conditions, as well as conditions potentially encountered during invasive growth in planta.}, number={9}, journal={FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY}, author={Donofrio, N. M. and Oh, Y. and Lundy, R. and Pan, H. and Brown, D. E. and Jeong, J. S. and Coughlan, S. and Mitchell, T. K. and Dean, R. A.}, year={2006}, month={Sep}, pages={605–617} }
 @article{dean_talbot_ebbole_farman_mitchell_orbach_thon_kulkarni_xu_pan_et al._2005, title={The genome sequence of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea}, volume={434}, ISSN={["1476-4687"]}, DOI={10.1038/nature03449}, abstractNote={Magnaporthe grisea is the most destructive pathogen of rice worldwide and the principal model organism for elucidating the molecular basis of fungal disease of plants. Here, we report the draft sequence of the M. grisea genome. Analysis of the gene set provides an insight into the adaptations required by a fungus to cause disease. The genome encodes a large and diverse set of secreted proteins, including those defined by unusual carbohydrate-binding domains. This fungus also possesses an expanded family of G-protein-coupled receptors, several new virulence-associated genes and large suites of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism. Consistent with a role in fungal pathogenesis, the expression of several of these genes is upregulated during the early stages of infection-related development. The M. grisea genome has been subject to invasion and proliferation of active transposable elements, reflecting the clonal nature of this fungus imposed by widespread rice cultivation. The genome sequence of the most destructive pathogen of rice is now available. The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea is the first fungal plant pathogen genome to be characterized, and with the rice genome already sequenced, it provides a unique opportunity to study the relationship between host and pathogen. Early findings include a family of novel G-protein-coupled receptors involved in disrupting host defences, a candidate target for fungicides specific for this pest. The genome has been invaded by other genetic elements in the past, probably contributing to rapid evolution when faced with newly introduced resistant rice varieties.}, number={7036}, journal={NATURE}, author={Dean, RA and Talbot, NJ and Ebbole, DJ and Farman, ML and Mitchell, TK and Orbach, MJ and Thon, M and Kulkarni, R and Xu, JR and Pan, HQ and et al.}, year={2005}, month={Apr}, pages={980–986} }