Antimicrobial effectors of plant-associated fungi: multipurpose proteins with fast-evolving surfaces and structurally conserved cores

Plants are exposed to a variety of devastating pathogens, causing significant yearly yield losses. In order to facilitate infections, plant pathogens secrete an arsenal of molecules termed effectors, which are known to modulate plant immune responses. Plants, on the other hand, possess receptors allowing them to detect invading pathogens by either recognising conserved molecules associated with invading microbes or by perceiving effector molecules. For decades, molecular phytopathology research