Scientists discovered and studied a special enzyme called MoGlu16 from rice blast fungus that breaks down a key component of fungal cell walls called β-1,6-glucan. This enzyme can be used to visualize where this cell wall component is located in the fungus at different stages of its life cycle. When applied to fungus spores, the enzyme prevents them from sprouting and forming infection structures, making it a promising candidate for developing new ways to control rice blast disease.