About

Adam Steinbrenner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington. His lab studies the molecular bases of plant immunity to pathogens and pests, focusing on recognition and signaling functions of cell surface receptors and the evolutionary processes driving novelty in plant immune systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University and a PhD from UC Berkeley in Plant and Microbial Biology. Additionally, he was a HHMI Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego. Dr. Steinbrenner teaches courses related to molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, including topics in immunology and experiments in molecular biology. His research has contributed to understanding the evolution of herbivore peptide recognition by plant immune receptors, with findings published in eLife, and has been featured in Nature and other news outlets.

Research topics

• Biology
• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Cell biology
• Ecology
• Biochemistry
• Botany

Selected publications

• Molecular tug-of-war: Plant immune recognition of herbivory

  The Plant Cell · 2022 · 158 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary biology

  Plant defense responses against insect herbivores are induced through wound-induced signaling and the specific perception of herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs). In addition, herbivores can deliver effectors that suppress plant immunity. Here we review plant immune recognition of HAMPs and effectors, and argue that these initial molecular interactions upon a plant-herbivore encounter mediate and structure effective resistance. While the number of distinct HAMPs and effectors from both chewing and piercing-sucking herbivores has expanded rapidly with omics-enabled approaches, paired receptors and targets in the host are still not well characterized. Herbivore-derived effectors may also be recognized as HAMPs depending on the host plant species, potentially through the evolution of novel immune receptor functions. We compile examples of HAMPs and effectors where natural variation between species may inform evolutionary patterns and mechanisms of plant-herbivore interactions. Finally, we discuss the combined effects of wounding and HAMP recognition, and review potential signaling hubs, which may integrate both sensing functions. Understanding the precise mechanisms for plant sensing of herbivores will be critical for engineering resistance in agriculture.

  DOI

• A receptor-like protein mediates plant immune responses to herbivore-associated molecular patterns

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2020 · 153 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Biochemistry

  ) in tobacco. Our results support the role of plant immune receptors in the perception of chewing herbivores and defense.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Evan Saldivar

  Carnegie Institution for Science

  18 shared

• Cyril Zipfel

  18 shared

• Antonio F. Chaparro

  University of Washington

  14 shared

• Nicholas Holton

  University of East Anglia

  13 shared

• Eric A. Schmelz

  University of California, San Diego

  12 shared

• María Muñoz‐Amatriaín

  Colorado State University

  10 shared

• Natalia Guayazán‐Palacios

  University of Washington

  8 shared

• Gregory B. Martin

  Ithaca College

  7 shared

Labs

• Steinbrenner LabPI

Education

• B.S.

  Tufts University

• Ph.D.

  UC Berkeley Plant and Microbial Bio

• Other

  UC San Diego

Similar researchers at University of Washington

• Sarah Jaewon Leeh-151
• Jan Hansenh-130
• Linda Simonsenh-120
• Anna Waldh-119
• Jesse Bloomh-117