Role of RNA-interacting proteins in modulating plant-microbe interactions

Abstract Successful infection of a pathogen in its host plant depends on the complex molecular interplay between host and the invading microbe. Plant-microbe interactions are primarily governed by signal interchange amid both the organisms. Effective passage of the pathogen into the plant system requires the circumvention of signal detection mechanisms and subsequent immune responses. As a mechanism to counteract defense response, pathogens deploy several RNA-interacting proteins (RIPs) or RNA molecules which interrupt the host transcriptional as well as signaling pathways, leading to successful infection and symptom development. The interference by pathogen-derived small RNAs (sRNA) in the gene silencing machinery of the host has been recently reported. In this context, the present review describes the pathogen- and host-specific RNA molecules and chaperones, their roles in modulating host immune response as well as pathogenesis, and the possible targets for manipulating the molecular mechanism to develop durable tolerance/resistance against diseases in crops.