Explore the fascinating world of plant immunity in this 46-minute lecture from Gresham College by Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency. Discover how plants fight infections without white blood cells, including their ability to distinguish between pathogens, trigger specific immune responses, and retain memory of past infections. Learn about groundbreaking discoveries in plant defense mechanisms, from Harold Henry Flor's gene-for-gene relationship to hypersensitive responses where plants use cell suicide as protection. Examine the surprising similarities between plant and human immune systems, the role of salicylic acid (the precursor to aspirin), and how plants communicate danger through volatile signals and underground fungal networks. The lecture also covers cutting-edge applications including plant-based antibodies, edible vaccines, engineered crops for food security, and the potential for plants to detect human pathogens. A companion Q&A session is available separately.
Green Immunity - How Do Plants Fight Infection?
Overview
Syllabus
00:00 // Introduction – The Overlooked World of Plant Immunity
00:44 // Welcome & Overview of Plant Immunity
01:58 // Plants and Their Constant Battle Against Pathogens
03:16 // The Discovery of Plant Immunity – Harold Henry Flor’s Work
05:01 // Gene-for-Gene Relationship in Plant Defense
06:30 // The 1990s Breakthrough in Plant Immunity
08:09 // Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Defense
09:56 // Hypersensitive Response – Plant Cell Suicide as a Defense Mechanism
12:03 // How Plants and Humans Share Similar Immune Responses
14:36 // The Role of Salicylic Acid in Plant Immunity
17:07 // Why Plants Don’t Keep Their Immune System Always Active
19:24 // Evolutionary Similarities Between Plant and Human Immunity
21:08 // Salicylic Acid – From Plants to Aspirin
23:07 // How Plants Communicate Danger Through Volatile Signals
25:16 // Rapid Immune Responses – Closing Stomata to Block Infection
26:43 // The Underground Network – Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communication
30:15 // Potential of Fungal Networks in Climate Adaptation
31:15 // Adaptive Immunity in Humans vs. Plants
32:51 // The Future of Plant-Based Antibodies
34:13 // Edible Vaccines – The Potential of Tomato-Based Immunization
36:00 // Engineering Plants for More Resilient Crops
37:30 // The Role of Plant Immunity in Global Food Security
39:01 // Advanced Genetic Engineering – Plant Sentinels for Disease Detection
42:26 // The Future – Can Plants Be Used to Detect Human Pathogens?
44:51 // Conclusion – Harnessing Plant Immunity for a Better Future
Taught by
Gresham College
