Lorena Rangel

Research Plant Pathologist
Cell and Molecular Sciences
E: lorena.rangel@hutton.ac.uk
Lorena is a plant pathologist in the epidemiology group within the Cell and Molecular Sciences department. Her research focuses on the foliar microbiome of agricultural crops or their wild progenitors and how phytopathogenesis impacts community structure. In particular, she is interested in investigating the potential to exploit the foliar and endophytic microbiome for tailored disease control of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Biography

Lorena is a plant pathologist in the epidemiology group within the Cell and Molecular Sciences department. Her research focuses on the foliar microbiome of agricultural crops or their wild progenitors and how phytopathogenesis impacts community structure. In particular, she is interested in investigating the potential to exploit the foliar and endophytic microbiome for tailored disease control of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Research

Current Research Interests and Impact

Native microbial strains are better adapted to offering plants protection from local biotic stresses, and profiling these communities offers an approach for biocontrol research in any crop pathosystem. Using a crop agnostic approach, cataloguing the native plant microbiome has the potential to provide low-risk biological control alternatives and a foundation for commercial application.

Foliar Microbiome Research

    • Phyllosphere (epiphyte & endophtye) characterisation of healthy/diseased signatures
    • Assessing function of hub taxa for crop protection
    • Biocontrol of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi
    • Work with industry towards creation of safe biologicals 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary Metabolite Research

  • Discovery of SM involvement in phytopathogenesis
  • Identification of cross-kingdom SM communication
  • Validating function of SM gene clusters
  • Improve crop protection through plant resistance inducers

Past research

Previous Experience

2019-2023 Post-doctoral Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Fargo, North Dakota, USA

2019   Ph.D. Plant Pathology – University of California, Davis, California, USA

2012  M.S. Plant Pathology – Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

2010 B.S. Microbiology minor Chemistry – Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA

 

Publications

Rangel, L.I., Wyatt, N., Courneya, I., Natwick, M.B., Secor, G.A., Rivera-Varas, V., & M.D. Bolton. 2024. CbCyp51 mediated DMI resistance is modulated by codon bias. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-24-0034-R

Rangel, L.I. & J.H.L. Leveau. 2024. Applied microbiology of the phyllosphere. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 108: 211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-024-13042-4

Rangel, L.I. & M.D. Bolton. 2022. The unsung roles of microbial secondary metabolite effectors in the plant disease cacophony. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 68: 102233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102233

Rangel, L.I., Hamilton, O., de Jonge, R., & M.D Bolton. 2021. Fungal social influencers: secondary metabolites as a platform for shaping the plant-associated community. The Plant Journal. 3: 632-645. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15490

Ebert, M.K.*, Rangel, L.I.*, Spanner, R.E., Taliadoros, D., Wang, X., Friesen, T.L., de Jonge, R., Neubauer, J.D., Secor, G.A., Thomma, B.P.H.J., Stukenbrock, E.H. & M.D. Bolton. 2020. Identification and characterization of Cercospora beticola necrosis-inducing effector CbNIP1. Molecular Plant Pathology. 00:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13026

Rangel, L.I., Spanner, R., Ebert, M.K., Pethybridge, S., Stukenbrock, E., de Jonge, R., Secor, G.A. & M.D. Bolton. 2020. Cercospora beticola: the intoxicating lifestyle of the leaf spot pathogen of sugar beet. Molecular Plant Pathology. 21:1020-1041. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12962

Rangel, L.I., Henkels, M.D., Shaffer, B.T., Walker, F.L., Davis II, E.W., Stockwell, V.O., Bruck, D., Taylor, B.J. and J.E. Loper. 2016. Characterization of toxin complex gene clusters and insect toxicity of bacteria representing four subgroups of Pseudomonas fluorescens. PLoS One. 11(8), p.e0161120. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161120

Loper, J.E., Henkels, M.D., Rangel, L.I., Olcott, M.H., Walker, F.L., Bond, K.L., Kidarsa, T.A., Hesse, C.N., Sneh, B., Stockwell, V.O. and B.J. Taylor. 2016. Rhizoxin analogs, orfamide A and chitinase production contribute to the toxicity of Pseudomonas protegens strain Pf-5 to Drosophila melanogaster. Environmental Microbiology. 18(10): 3509-3521. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13369

Henkels, M.D., Kidarsa, T.A., Shaffer, B.T, Goebel, N.C., Burlinson, P., Mavrodi, D.V., Bentley, M.A., Rangel, L.I., Davis, E.W., Thomashow, L.S., Zabriskie, T.M., Preston, G.M. and J.E. Loper. 2014. Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 causes discoloration and pitting of mushroom caps due to the production of antifungal metabolites. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 27: 733-746. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-13-0311-R

Loper, J.E., Hassan, K.A., Mavrodi, D.V., Davis, E.W., Lim, C.K., Shaffer, B.T., Elbourne, L.D.H., Hartney, S., Stockwell, V., Breakwell, K., Henkels, M.D., Tetu, S.G., Rangel, L.I., Wilson, N.L., vanMortel, J., Song, C., Blumhagen, R., Radune, D., Hostetler, J., Brinkac, L., Durkin, S., Kluepfel, D., Wechter, P., Anderson, A., Kim, Y.C., Pierson, L.S., Pierson, E.A., Lindow, S.E., Raaijmakers, J.M., Weller, D., Thomashow, L., Allen, A. and I.T. Paulsen. 2012. Comparative genomics of plant-associated Pseudomonas spp.: insights into diversity and inheritance of traits involved in multitrophic interactions. PLoS Genetics. 8: e1002784. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1002784