This document discusses two INBRE research projects. Project 1 involves using yeast two-hybrid screening to identify proteins that interact with SINAs, a group of E3 ligase proteins involved in plant defense and degradation pathways. Several interacting proteins have been found so far, including some related to fungal resistance. Project 2 examines the bacterial pathogen causing Zebra Chip disease in potatoes. The pathogen has been identified and preliminary studies show it can be transmitted between plants and via the potato psyllid vector. Researchers are testing effector proteins from the pathogen in a cell death assay to identify any that can suppress the plant immune response.