Animals have complex immune systems. So do plants, but in a much different way. While plants have an immune response, it often results in allowing the infected parts to die, as the rest of the plant will be fine.
But the damage can grow to be too severe and kill the plant outright.
East Anglia scientists wondered if they could use animal immune system antibodies via fusing them with plant immune receptors to give plants a proper immune response.
The answer is yes.