Orosa

Understanding and engineering plant defences for sustainable agriculture

At the SynPlant Lab (Synthetic Biology for Plant Immunity) , we are passionate about unlocking the secrets of how plants defend themselves against disease, and how we can use this knowledge to build more resilient crops.

Plants live under constant threat from harmful microbes and pests. To survive, they’ve developed sophisticated immune systems. One of the most powerful tools they use is a tiny molecular tag called ubiquitin, which helps control when and how immune defences are activated. Our lab explores the incredible versatility of this system and how it is used to fight off infection, especially in important crops like barley.

What do we study?

Our research combines plant biology, synthetic biology, chemistry and cutting-edge proteomics to answer key questions:

• How do plants recognise and respond to pathogens?
• How do pathogens hijack plant immune systems?
• How can we reprogram plant immunity to make crops stronger?

To answer these, we investigate the role of ubiquitin, a small molecule that plants attach to proteins to regulate their function. Ubiquitin is a master controller of plant immune responses, helping decide which proteins are kept, activated or destroyed. But pathogens can fight back; some produce special proteins that disrupt ubiquitin signals to weaken the plant’s defences. We want to understand this evolutionary arms race and use it to develop better ways to protect crops.

Our Work to Boost Plant Immunity in Smarter Ways

Our lab studies how crops like barley defend themselves against diseases such as rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia hordei. We focus on a key cellular system called ubiquitin signalling, which helps plants regulate immune responses. In the SynUbL project, we explore how plants use enzymes called E3 ligases to tag and remove harmful proteins, and how pathogens try to interfere. By engineering synthetic E3 ligases, we aim to enhance plant defences and disrupt pathogen attacks. Our UBIQUIP project takes a different approach: we’re building a light-controlled immune system that activates only when needed, minimising energy costs and avoiding damage from constant defence activation. Together, these projects aim to provide smarter, more precise ways to protect crops, an essential step toward sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.

Why does this matter?

With climate change and rising food demand, we urgently need crops that are more resilient to disease, require fewer chemicals, and can thrive sustainably. Our lab works at the crossroads of plant science, synthetic biology and chemistry to create solutions that are smart, precise, and practical for farmers and food systems around the world.

Main researcher:

Dr Beatriz Orosa is an Oportunius Fellow and group leader at CIQUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, where she leads a research team exploring how plants use ubiquitin signalling to defend themselves from disease. Her work combines fundamental science and applied research to develop innovative tools for crop protection.
With a career spanning both human and plant immunity across four international institutions, Dr. Orosa has published in top journals like Science and Nature Communications. Her passion for plant biology led her to develop cutting-edge proteomics tools to investigate how post-translational modifications regulate plant immune responses. After prestigious fellowships at Durham and Edinburgh, she established her independent lab at the CIQUS, supported by national and European grants, including an ERC Consolidator Grant. As a recognised leader in plant proteostasis, she also champions equity in science through initiatives supporting early-career researchers and women in plant science.

Driven by curiosity, collaboration, and impact, Dr. Orosa’s research aims to unlock new strategies to build disease-resistant crops for a sustainable future.