Melanie Higgins

Dr. Melanie Higgins


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 February 2025 in Nature Catalysis
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
XSXinjie Shi
Xinjie Shi
JSJordi Soler
Jordi Soler
JHJill B. Harland
Jill B. Harland
TPTaylor Parkkila
Taylor Parkkila
KRKatherine S Ryan
Katherine S Ryan

30 June 2020 in mBio
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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PBPolina Beskrovnaya
Polina Beskrovnaya
RMRyan A. Melnyk
Ryan A. Melnyk
ZLZhexian Liu
Zhexian Liu
YLYang Liu
Yang Liu
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
CHCara H. Haney
Cara H. Haney
Plant root-associated microbes promote plant growth and elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) to foliar pathogens. In an attempt to find novel growth-promoting and ISR-inducing strains, we previously identified strains of root-associated Pseudomonas spp. that promote plant growth but unexpectedly elicited induced systemic susceptibility (ISS) rather than ISR to foliar pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that the ISS-inducing phenotype is common among root-associated Pseudomonas spp. Using comparative genomics, we identified a single Pseudomonas fluorescens locus that is unique to ISS strains. We generated a clean deletion of the 11-gene ISS locus and found that it is necessary for the ISS phenotype. Although the functions of the predicted genes in the locus are not apparent based on similarity to genes of known function, the ISS locus is present in diverse bacteria, and a subset of the genes were previously implicated in pathogenesis in animals. Collectively, these data show that a single bacterial locus contributes to modulation of systemic plant immunity. IMPORTANCE Microbiome-associated bacteria can have diverse effects on health of their hosts, yet the genetic and molecular bases of these effects have largely remained elusive. This work demonstrates that a novel bacterial locus can modulate systemic plant immunity. Additionally, this work demonstrates that growth-promoting strains may have unanticipated consequences for plant immunity, and this is critical to consider when the plant microbiome is being engineered for agronomic improvement.

25 March 2021 in ACS Chemical Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
GTGregor Tegl
Gregor Tegl
SMSpencer S. MacDonald
Spencer S. MacDonald
GAGregory Arnal
Gregory Arnal
HBHarry Brumer
Harry Brumer
KRKatherine S Ryan
Katherine S Ryan

12 August 2019 in Nature Chemical Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
YDYi-Ling Du
Yi-Ling Du
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
GZGuiyun Zhao
Guiyun Zhao
KRKatherine S Ryan
Katherine S Ryan

24 March 2017 in Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
AHAileen M. Hamilton
Aileen M. Hamilton
ABAlisdair B. Boraston
Alisdair B. Boraston

12 July 2019 in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
JGJin Guo
Jin Guo
MHMelanie Higgins
Melanie Higgins
PDPhillip Daniel-Ivad
Phillip Daniel-Ivad
KRKatherine S Ryan
Katherine S Ryan