Volume 36, No 1, Jan 2026

ISSN: 1001-0602 
EISSN: 1748-7838 2018 
impact factor 17.848* 
(Clarivate Analytics, 2019)

Volume 36 Issue 1, January 2026: 7-8

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Broad-spectrum plant immunity: engineering pathogen protease-activated autoactive NLRs

Qibin Wu¹ , Wanying Zhao¹ , Zheng Qing Fu^2,* , Youxiong Que^1,*

¹State Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sanya Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
²Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
Correspondence: Zheng Qing Fu(zfu@mailbox.sc.edu)Youxiong Que(queyouxiong@126.com)

While nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors play an important role in protecting plants from pathogen infections, their practical application in disease control has faced challenges due to the swift changes in pathogens and the absence of broad and lasting resistance. Wang et al. recently engineered innovative pathogen-activated autoactive NLRs that deliver broad-spectrum plant immunity against these threats.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-025-01169-6

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