Effector protein (IMAGE) University of Nebraska-Lincoln Caption An effector protein (shown in green) can silence the immune responses of rice cells on behalf of a fungus that destroys enough yearly yields to feeds tens of millions of people. A Nebraska study has found that the virulence of that fungus — and deployment of ninja-like proteins that help it escape detection by muffling an immune system’s alarm bells — relies on genetic decoding quirks that could prove central to stopping it. Credit Margarita Marroquín-Guzman / Scott Schrage, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Usage Restrictions Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted. License CC BY-NC-ND Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.