Many filamentous pathogens invade plant cells through specialized hyphae called haustoria. These infection structures are enveloped by a newly synthesized plant-derived membrane called the extrahaustorial membrane (EHM). This specialized membrane is the ultimate interface between the plant and pathogen, and is key to the success or failure of infection. Strikingly, the EHM is reminiscent of host-derived membrane interfaces that engulf intracellular metazoan parasites. These perimicrobial interfaces are critical sites where pathogens facilitate nutrient uptake and deploy virulence factors to disarm cellular defenses mounted by their hosts. Although the mechanisms underlying the biogenesis and functions of these host–microbe interfaces are poorly understood, recent studies have provided new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. In this Cell Science at a Glance and the accompanying poster, we summarize these recent advances with a specific focus on the haustorial interfaces associated with filamentous plant pathogens. We highlight the progress in the field that fundamentally underpin this research topic. Furthermore, we relate our knowledge of plant–filamentous pathogen interfaces to those generated by other plant-associated organisms. Finally, we compare the similarities between host–pathogen interfaces in plants and animals, and emphasize the key questions in this research area.

许多丝状病原体通过称为吸器的特殊菌丝侵入植物细胞。这些感染结构被新合成的植物源性膜（称为吸器外膜（EHM））包裹。这种特殊的膜是植物和病原体之间的最终界面，是感染成功或失败的关键。引人注目的是，EHM 让人想起吞噬细胞内后生动物寄生虫的宿主衍生膜界面。这些微生物周界面是病原体促进营养吸收并部署毒力因子以解除宿主细胞防御的关键部位。尽管人们对这些宿主-微生物界面的生物发生和功能的机制知之甚少，但最近的研究为所涉及的细胞和分子机制提供了新的见解。在这篇《细胞科学概览》和随附的海报中，我们总结了这些最新进展，特别关注与丝状植物病原体相关的吸器界面。我们强调从根本上支撑该研究主题的领域的进展。此外，我们将植物-丝状病原体界面的知识与其他植物相关生物产生的界面联系起来。最后，我们比较了植物和动物宿主-病原体界面之间的相似性，并强调了该研究领域的关键问题。