The Athiyannan Lab

Welcome to the Athiyannan Lab! We are based at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav), Irapuato Unit. Cinvestav is a Mexican public institution dedicated to developing science, technology, and postgraduate education.

The United Nations estimates that plant pests and diseases cause annual losses of 20 –30% in global crop production. This poses a significant threat to global food security and hinders efforts to increase annual crop production to meet the demands of a growing human population. In the face of evolving pathogens and environmental pressures, developing and deploying effective disease management strategies is paramount. Plant disease resistance genes are a vital component of plant immunity. They play a crucial role in protecting crops against a wide range of pathogens, which is essential for global food security. Our lab’s goal is to identify diverse sources of resistance genes to protect crop plants against fungal pathogens.