The Bradshaw lab focuses on genomic analyses of plant pathogenic fungi, particularly unculturable species, to understand their evolutionary history and mechanisms of adaptation. Working with these fungi presents unique challenges due to the limited availability of DNA, which is often contaminated with DNA from other fungi. Our research employs genomic tools to explore alignments, variations, and the distribution of repetitive elements and genes in these fungi. This work is crucial for unraveling the genetic basis of host specificity and pathogen adaptation. We are interested in the role of transposable elements in driving structural variation, identifying species-specific genomic regions driving evolutionary adaptations, and examining the expansion of gene families, such as AVR effectors associated with virulence. We also conduct comparative transcriptomics to identify genes linked to virulence, including evaluating known virulence genes from other powdery mildew systems for expression differences. This approach is key to elucidating the genetic mechanisms that underlie pathogen virulence, enhancing our understanding of these complex biological interactions. By studying the full genomes of plant pathogens, we gain valuable insights into the evolutionary patterns of plant-pathogen interactions.

Image by Uma Crouch