- Assistant Professor
Biography
Location
Lab: Abelson Hall 310
Office: Eastlick Hall 397
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, by appointment only.
Education
PhD, Plant Molecular Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington
Research Interests
Research in my lab focuses on the molecular frontiers of plant immunity, with particular emphasis on the plant extracellular space (apoplast) and its role in host–microbe interactions.
We investigate two distinct but complementary areas: the biology of extracellular RNAs and the role of apoplastic proteolytic components in plant defense.
One branch of our research explores the features of plant extracellular RNAs and how these RNAs are stabilized, trafficked, and potentially transferred to interacting microbes, where they may act as regulatory signals to suppress pathogen virulence or influence the plant-associated microbial community. This work contributes to the growing understanding of RNA-mediated cross-kingdom gene regulation and extracellular RNA signaling in plants.
In a separate research stream, we study apoplastic proteolytic activity, investigating how extracellular proteolytic complexes, such as proteasomes contribute to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and other early defense responses. We aim to dissect their regulation, secretion, and activity during immune signaling, and how they interact with other apoplastic defense components.
We use a multidisciplinary approach that combines molecular genetics, RNA biology, biochemistry, and plant pathology, and we welcome collaborations across fields ranging from host–microbe interactions to RNA applications.
Postdoctoral and PhD positions are available. If you are interested in joining my lab, please contact us at Hana.karimi@wsu.edu.
Representative Publications:
- Zand Karimi H, Chen KE, Karinshak M, Gu X, Sello JK, Vierstra RD. Proteasomes accumulate in the plant apoplast where they participate in microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered pathogen defense. Nat Commun. 2025 Feb 14;16(1):1634.
- Zand Karimi H, Baldrich P, Rutter BD, Borniego L, Zajt KK, Meyers BC, Innes RW. Arabidopsis apoplastic fluid contains sRNA- and circular RNA-protein complexes that are located outside extracellular vesicles. Plant Cell. 2022 Apr 26;34(5):1863-1881.
- Zand Karimi H, Innes RW. Molecular mechanisms underlying host-induced gene silencing. Plant Cell. 2022 Aug 25;34(9):3183-3199.
- Baldrich P, Rutter BD, Zand Karimi H, Podicheti R, Meyers BC, Innes RW. Plant Extracellular Vesicles Contain Diverse Small RNA Species and Are Enriched in 10- to 17-Nucleotide “Tiny” RNAs. Plant Cell. 2019 Feb;31(2):315-324.