Mariama D. Carter

In addition to living on plant leaves and roots, microbes also colonise the unique, flowing environments of the plant vascular system. Mariama has a long-held interest in how bacterial invaders thrive in these specialised plant tissues, causing disease and crop loss.

Previously, she studied a bacterial wilt disease that forms microbial aggregates (biofilms) in the xylem blocking critical flow of water in plants. Her work elucidated key mechanisms of biofilm development and virulence in the host.

At the JIC, Mariama now studies a peculiar phloem-dwelling bacterium—Aster Yellows phytoplasma—that lives both in a plant and in an insect vector. Her research investigates bacterial proteins secreted in the phloem to modify the host environment and support pathogen success.

With a mechanistic understanding of complex plant-bacterial interactions, Mariama endeavours to support the discovery of novel disease management strategies.