On behalf of the New Phytologist Trust and symposium organisers I am pleased to invite you to participate in a symposium entitled ‘Immunomodulation by plant-associated organisms’ to be held at Fallen Leaf Lake, California, USA. Full details about the meeting are below and on the linked pages, however if you have any questions please do contact New Phytologist Symposia.

We look forward to welcoming you in California.

Deputy Managing Editor, New Phytologist

A diverse range of organisms interact with and alter plant immunity through secreted molecules known as effectors. Although a large number of effector molecules have been discovered in the genomes of a range of plant-associated organisms, relatively little is known about the activities and host targets of these effectors. This Symposium will focus on a mechanistic understanding of this process, covering a broad spectrum of plant interactions from divergent taxa including: bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, insects and parasitic plants. This will help to illustrate the diversity of evolutionary strategies that microbes and other organisms have evolved that result in both positive and negative alterations to plants. By bringing together top scientists in this field we will provide an opportunity to compare the different approaches being undertaken to unravel the biochemical activities of the effectors. The Symposium will undoubtedly stimulate discussion as well as an exchange of ideas and research strategies.