Innate immune system is our body’s first barrier against microbial invasion and is the only immune system plants use to combat diseases. The innate immune systems across both the animal and the plant kingdoms rely on immune receptor proteins to detect specific pathogen invasion or disease molecules, which then trigger a cascade of immune signalling that activate host defence. Our knowledge of how these immune receptors detect various pathogens and signalling remains rudimentary, making it impossible to efficiently manage any related diseases. The Zhang group engineers novel protein functionality and develops innovative synthetic biology tools, such as directed evolution (DE) to study immune receptor proteins. We will reveal the structural and biochemical mechanisms underlying receptor protein functions. This knowledge will have important applications in identifying therapeutic targets in human diseases and in developing disease resistant crops.