Understanding Host-Microbe Interactions in Plant Bacterial Infections

The Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (DEB) program would like to thank DEB student, Cintia Duarte Sagawa (Plant Biology graduate group), and her DEB mentor, Professor Abhaya Dandekar for graciously agreeing to a photo shoot in the Dandekar Lab. Above, we see Cintia handling transgenic walnuts grown in vitro for her research. 

During her time in the DEB, Cintia shared, "I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Plant Biology Graduate Group in Dr. Abhaya Dandekar’s lab. I am interested in biotech applications in the development of sustainable agriculture. My research is focused on understanding host-microbe interactions in plant bacterial infections using proteomics and molecular biology approaches. Differently, from most bacterial infections in humans, many diseases in plants are poorly understood. Successful cultivation of perennial plants like citrus, grapevines, walnuts, and olives, have been hampered by ineffective disease treatments. My research aims to contribute to the development of strategies to control and disrupt bacterial disease development. We want to help growers to protect their orchards with targeted and sustainable therapies."