The survival strategy of parasitic plants is based on the penetration of host plant tissue and the subsequent formation of infection organs (called haustoria) that connect the parasite with the host's vascular tubes. This lifestyle has led to a number of changes in the morphology and physiology of parasitic plants, some of which can be exploited biotechnologically. We are interested in the molecular bases of these special features, their evolution, their regulation and the use of this knowledge in biomedical, biotechnological or agricultural contexts.