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Home » Research » Research Groups
![]() Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins Computational and experimental structural biology of membrane proteins: use and development of novel experimental and computational approaches to elucidate membrane proteins structure. |
Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases Membrane traffic in health and disease (endocytosis, exocytosis, transcytosis); Membrane domains; Epithelial cell polarity; Cell biology of enteric bacterial pathogens; Pathogenic bacteria – epithelial host interactions; Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) ![]() |
![]() Peptide Therapy for Neurodegenerative & Inflammatory Diseases The mechanism of exocytosis; Neurodegeneration: Development of drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disorders. |
![]() How Do Plants Degrade Cellular Components for Energy Production We are interested in understanding how plants degrade cellular components for energy production. This occurs during the development of non-photosynthetic tissues and under stress conditions, in which photosynthesis is not functioning well. We are focusing on a cellular degradation mechanism called ‘Autophagy’, investigating it using molecular and metabolomic approaches. |
![]() Micro Flight Lab Understanding the mechanisms of flight control in insects; bio-mimetic robotics |
![]() Basic & Applied Aspects of Environmental Microbiology Microbial ecology of extreme environments, with a focus on the microbial populations of salt-excreting plants; Microbial water quality; Genetically engineered microbial sensors for environmental monitoring, with an emphasis on toxicity and genotoxicity assessment and on the detection of specific classes of compounds, including trace pharmaceuticals and explosives. |
Genetic Regulation of CNS Development & Neurodegenerative Diseases Developmental Neuro-Genetics: the study of bHLH transcription factors regulating embryonic development, focusing on the nervous system. Characterization of the role and function of the transcription factors at the cellular and whole organism levels, utilizing chick embryos and knockout and transgenic mice. Revealing their molecular mode of action at various levels (transcription regulation of target genes, molecular interactions: DNA-protein, protein-protein etc.). We also study the involvement of transcription factors in human diseases (developmental, inherited and cancer). |
![]() Human Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiation and genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells ; Human genetic disorder and human embryonic stem cells ; Genomic analysis of human development ; Oncogenic properties of stem cells |
![]() Sociobiology, Chronobiology & Physiology of Bees We study the evolution and mechanisms underlying sociality and social behavior, using bees as a model. Our main research focuses are:
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![]() Mammalian Cyclosome Regulation The eukaryotic cell cycle and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis Protein aggregation and neurodegeneration. |
![]() Mechanobiology of Stem Cells and Nucleus Biophysics Cell-matrix interactions in directing cell-fate decision making, Remodeling of the nuclear matrix of lamins and chromatin |
![]() Ancient DNA & Human Evolution The ability to sequence DNA from bones and teeth opened the opportunity to read the genetic makeup of ancient populations like Neanderthals and Mammoths. The work in my lab focuses in identifying the genetic changes that made us humans, in studying the epigenetics of ancient populations, and in general understanding evolutionary and historical processes. |
![]() Developmental & Evolutionary Biology Studying arthropod evolution using different sources of information: Comparative embryology, comparative genomics, paleontology and systematics. |
![]() Experience-Dependent Plasticity Neuroscience, molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, drug addiction, feeding disorders, experience-dependent plasticity, neural circuit adaptations, synaptic physiology and plasticity, transcriptional regulatory networks, non-coding RNA. |
![]() Pain & Anesthesia Research Laboratory Plasticity in the somatosensory system in mammals. Neural mechanisms whereby injury provokes sensory dysfunction and chronic pain. Pathophysiology of injured nerve and abnormal impulse generation. Synaptic reorganization in the brain and spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury. Regeneration and collateral sprouting of injured nerve fibers. Animal models of chronic pain states and pain relief. Heritability of chronic pain. Neural mechanisms of loss of pain response and of consciousness in general anesthesia. |
![]() Epigenetics, Chromatin & Cancer Epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Cancer epigenetics. |
![]() Developmental Mechanisms of inflammatory Diseases & Cancer Development of constitutively active MAP/stress kinases for studies of the etiology cancer and inflammation. Revealing the mechanism of gene expression under stress in yeast and mammalian cells. Focusing on Gcn4, Hsf1 and Msn2/4. Analysis expression of stress-related genes in oncogenically-transformed cells. |
![]() Terrestrial microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions
The lab’s goal is to promote a systems-level understanding of the rules that govern the assembly and maintenance of a functionally robust plant microbiome and its effects on plant health.
We aim to understand how the ecological context, in particular microbe-microbe interactions, determines microbiome assembly and the resulting plant phenotypes.
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![]() Marine Microbial Eco-Physiology Biological oceanography; Marine phytoplankton ecology and cell biology; Population dynamics; Life cycle strategies. My lab focus on the investigation of the main ecological and cellular differentiation between life cycle phases, understanding the role of each phase and the interplay with other organisms in the oceans as well as on the search for triggers regulating life phase transitions. |
![]() Systems Biology of Transcription and Chromatin Transcription regulation, Chromatin modifications, systematic yeast genetics. |
![]() Developmental Biology, Regeneration and Evolution of the Sea-Anemone Nematostella A main subject in the lab is the gene expression changes underlying the process of whole-body regeneration (the remarkable ability of some animals to form their body again after dissection into pieces) in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. We are analyzing the molecular genetics at the base of this amazing regenerative ability and compare this process to embryonic development. In our research we have discovered a little-known gene family, which has a role in regeneration but is also notorious for being involved in the metastasis of cells in many aggressive cancers in man. |
Biological Oceanography & Coral Reef Ecology Benthic-pelagic coupling. Predator-prey interactions in the marine environment. Biomechanics and effects of flow on corals, invertebrates and fish. |
Early Events in Cancer Development Cancer genetics, Early events in cancer development, Cell cycle, Genomic stability, The Cellular response to DNA damage , Cell cycle checkpoints , DNA repair |
![]() Circadian Rhythms in Plants Circadian rhythms in plants:
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![]() Ecological genomics & evolutionary modeling Modeling and analyzing population genomic datasets with applications to conservation; population genetic theory; modeling eco-evolutionary dynamics; modeling gene drives. |
The Nuclear Lamina in Health and Disease Lamins and their associated proteins in health and disease The roles of the nuclear lamina in development and aging The role of the nuclear envelope in apoptosis Molecular and genetic analysis of matefin/SUN-1 The sensing and responding to high CO2 levels. |
![]() Experimental Biology of Vertebrate Aging & Age-Related Diseases To address a major challenge in aging research, the lack of short-lived vertebrate genetic model, I have developed a comprehensive genetic platform for rapid exploration of aging and disease in the shortest-lived vertebrate model, the African turquoise killifish.
Experimental biology of vertebrate aging and age-related diseases using the short-lived African turquoise killifish; The genetic basis behind the outstanding diversity of lifespan between different animals; Genetic engineering and live imaging of age-related traits in multiple complex organs. |
Functional Ecology of Food-Web Dynamics Ecological and evolutionary aspects of predator-prey interactions, stress ecology, inducible defenses, above-below ground interactions, ecological-traps, nutritional ecology, individual syndrome, ecology and evolution of conspicuous anti-predator colors and patterns, herpetology and especially lizard ecology, desert ecology, ecosystem conservation and restoration. |
![]() Genetics, Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering in Plants Synthesis of carotenoid pigments in plants; Genetic regulation of natural products in the fruit; Gene cloning from tomato and their molecular analysis; Genome editing in tomato; Biotechnology and genetic engineering of natural compounds in tomato; Regulatory mechanisms of the hormone ABA in the plant. |
Cell Biology of Malignant Cells The relation between cell adhesiveness and growth control in malignant lymphoma cells. Molecular mechanisms involved in the selection of non-malignant variant cells from malignant cell populations. Different approaches to reversal of multi-drug resistance of malignant cells. Growth regulation of malignant lymphoma. Metastasis of malignant lymphoma. |
![]() Motor Control of the Flexible Arms of the Ooctopus - Inspiration for Rrobotics
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Visual Systems Vision: information processing in the mammalian and primate visual pathway. Computational neuroscience. Perception, learning and conciousness. |
![]() Biodiversity & Nature Conservation Plant population and community ecology. Plant demography; vegetation dynamics; succession. Landscape ecology, geographical information systems (GIS); conservation. |
![]() Computational Structural Biology Structural biology of large protein complexes. Mass-spectrometry. Computational structural modeling based on multiple information sources. Protein structure prediction. |
Ecological Processes in Photosynthetic Organisms Study of mechanisms which drive ecological processes mainly in photosynthetic organisms. What determines who is there and how do the organisms interact with one another and with their changing environment. |
![]() Genomic Instability & Disease
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Transport and Homeostasis of Metals in Photosynthetic Organisms Metal transport, accumulation and homeostasis in photosynthetic organisms. Dynamics of the photosynthetic apparatus: adaptation of photosynthetic organisms to the ever changing environment. |
![]() Modeling Ecological & Evolutionary Dynamics |
![]() Mechanism & Regulation of RNA Polymerase II Transcription
Our research is directed towards the mechanism and regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription. We seek to reconstitute the entire process from promoter chromatin remodeling to transcript synthesis with pure proteins and nucleic acids, to solve the structures of the proteins, and to elucidate their functional interactions.
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![]() Single-Molecule Biology
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![]() Signal Transduction in Plants Following Biotic or Abiotic Stress The signaling network that coordinates plant responses to environment. |
![]() Signal Transduction Therapy Signal transduction, Signal transduction therapy,Cancer Research, Medicinal Chemistry. |
![]() Neeuroscience & Computational Biology The dynamic processes of nerve terminals and the molecular aspects of synapse functioning. Control of exocytosis in regulated secretory systems. Differentiation and neurotransmitter phenotype acquisition in neurons, a study by proteomics and genomics approaches. Bioinformatics. Large scale studies of biological sequences and their global organization. Proteomics. Structural genomics. |
![]() The interactions Between Pathogens, the Host and the Gut Microbiota
We explore molecular mechanisms that control the balance between bacterial pathogens, the gut microbiota, and the host.
Our overarching goals are:
Our research strategy is to address these fundamental biological questions by taking a triangulated approach:
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Stuctural Biology of Proteins Structural determination of biologically related macromolecules via X-ray crystallographic techniques. Ligand recognition, initial signaling events, and the role of dimer/oligomer orientation in cytokine receptor systems. Structural studies of avidin/streptavidin - biotin high affinity systems. Structural based drug design and optimization. Combinatorial approaches in drug discovery. |
![]() Decision Making Research Decision-making and reinforcement learning, Reinforcement learning and cellular plasticity, The neuronal mechanisms underlying contraction bias, the functional architecture of the cerebellar cortex. |
Neural Coding Neural and dendritic computation and coding, Neuronal noise, neural basis of vocal communication, information theory analysis of neural communication. |
Epigenetics, Stem Cells and Neurons Epigenetics in stem cells, neuronal differentiation and neurons; Modeling neurodegenerative diseases using pluripotent stem cells; Paleo-epigenetics: reconstructing methylation in ancient DNA; Live imaging of nuclear dynamics in stem cell differentiation; Signaling pathways and molecular networks in stem cells and cancer |
![]() Tissue Engineering Genes coding for factors involved in control of differentiation and development. Control of proliferation and differentiation in adult tissues. Epithelial mesenchymal interactions. Gene therapy, angiogenesis, ageing. Differentiation of stem cells. Cell therapy. |
![]() Neuronal & Circuit Plasticity
What are the mechanisms of neuronal plasticity in the brain? Functional and structural plasticity during perceptual learning. What changes in the brain underlie social learning, and maternal behavior. The auditory system – development, learning and function.
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![]() Molecular Evolution The roles of microRNAs in cnidarian development; Evolution of sea anemone (and other strange animal) toxins; Evolution of voltage-gated sodium channels |
![]() Translation regulation by RNA modifications in development and disease
Our goal is to better understand the regulatory role of the ribosome in the central dogma of gene expression.
We explore molecular mechanisms of translation-regulation; specifically focusing on the role of RNA modifications in translational control during normal hematopoietic development, leukemia initiation, and viral infection. |
Liver Tissue Engineering & Metabolism 1. Metabolic programing: nuclear reactors-based control of metabolism 2. Human embryonic stem cell differentiation to hepatocytes 3. Liver tissue engineering and liver regeneration 4. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection |
![]() Movement Ecology Theoretical and applied population and community ecology, and aspects of movement ecology, in particular. Ecology and evolution of dispersal using an integrated theoretical-empirical approach, spatiotemporal population dynamics, Mechanistic models. Gene flow; frugivory plant-animal interactions, bird migration, ornithology, rarity, macroecology, conservation biology. |
![]() Structure & Function of Photosynthetic Proteins The structure-function relationships of membrane proteins mainly of the photosynthetic apparatus. Chloroplast development and light regulated expression of chlorophyll-protein complexes. |
![]() Auditory Neurophysiology Responses of neurons in the auditory system to complex sounds |
![]() Microbial Ecology
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![]() Steroid Endocrinology
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![]() Plant Phenotypic Response The main aims of our research are designed to investigate the nature of nuclear-organellar interactions, which link mitochondrial genome status and expression and plant phenotypic response. |
![]() Molecular & Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins Molecular membrane biology, structure biology, bioenergetics, biochemistry, biophysics. |
Neural Networks Experimental and theoretical neurobiology. Computational neuroscience; the neuron as a complicated computing element; individual nerve cells as information processing devices. Time coding by neurons. |
![]() RNA Regulation of Early Embryogenesis
How does a fertilized egg develop into a whole animal? This question fascinated scientists and philosophers throughout the ages, but even after decades of research, many questions remain unanswered. We study the molecular regulation of embryonic development in the zebrafish embryos. We focus on regulation on RNA molecules after their production: during RNA splicing, localization, and ‘death’ by degradation. These processes are critical for proper development, but remain less studied.
We use systematic approaches in order to study biological regulation on a global scale. We develop and implement high-throughput assays (e.g., RNA-seq, CRISPR/CAS9 genetic screens, massively parallel reporter assays), and combine them with building computational tools that explains and predicts RNA regulation from these genomic measurements.
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![]() Epigenomics Chromatin biology, Epigenomic mechanisms, Cellular differentiation, Cellular heterogeneity, single cell technology |
![]() Mechanisms of Protein Quality Control & Degradation by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Mechanisms of protein quality control and degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system; Enzymatic reactions of ubiquitin-chain formation and transfer; Chaperone-mediated misfolded protein degradation and aggregation
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![]() Protein Homeostasis & Stress Response System biology of redox regulation, intrinsically disordered chaperones, computational and experimental biology,proteomics and mass spectrometry. |
![]() Structural Bioinformatics Structural models aid in understanding the function of macromolecules, explaining the phenotype of mutations, studying the evolution of protein machineries, designing new proteins and drug molecules that can control or modify function. We develop and apply computational methods for structural modeling of multi-protein complexes and flexible (multi-state) proteins integrating information from experimental methods (X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, 2D and 3D Electron Microscopy (EM), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Mass Spectrometry (MS), Hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX), mutations), bioinformatics (sequence conservation and covariation), physics (force fields), and statistics. We develop methods for B-cell and T-cell epitope prediction based on modeling of the immune response structures, such as antibody-antigen interactions, antigen processing, MHC presentation and T-cell recognition. |
![]() Membrane Proteins, Multidrug Transporters and Antibiotic Resistance Antibiotic resistance is a growing global public health concern and transporters are essential for the acquisition of resistance Our work calls for an integration of our view of the transporter cohort (the effluxome) in the cell and the realization that they all labour together to maintain cell homeostasis. The process of identification of the members of the effluxome, the elucidation of the nature of the interactions and their role in cell physiology provides a fascinating challenge for the future. |
![]() Neural Conduction Experimental and theoretical neurobiology. Computational neuroscience; the neuron as a complicated computing element; individual nerve cells as information processing devices. Time coding by neurons. |
![]() Protein Engineering: Modulation of Protein-Protein Interactions Development of computational method for redesign of protein-protein interfaces for altered affinity and binding specificity. the projects include redesign of calmodulin-target interactions, AChE-toxin interactions, Ras-effector interactions, and prion protein interactions. |
![]() Genetics of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Genetics of autism and schizophrenia; The role of chromatin regulators in brain development and function; Genetics of the variation in gene expression |
![]() Molecular Genetics of Budding Yeast Molecular genetics in yeast: meiosis, cell cycle, chromosome pairing, segregation and recombination in meiosis. Instability in the human, mouse and yeast genomes. DNA repair. |
![]() Cholinergic Signaling in Health and Disease Stress responses. Antisense technology. Acetylcholinesterase biology. Molecular neurobiology. Messenger RNA studies |
![]() Structure and Function of the Nuclear Pre-mRNA Processing Machine Structure and function of the nuclear pre-mRNA processing machine. Pre-mRNA splicing. Pre-mRNA processing. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Assembly and structural studies of biological systems. Autoantibodies against nuclear RNPs-probes for inflammatory myopathies and RNA processing. Physical biochemistry. Electron microscopy. |
![]() Neuronal Networks Nutritional plasticity, a multidisciplinary approach to study the mechanis- ms underlying long-term neuronal and synaptic remodeling. The cellular, molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying growth cone formation, navigation of neurites, target recognition, synapse formation and neuronal network construction in development, regeneration and simple forms of learning and memory processes. Development of neuron-electronic hybrid systems. |
![]() Structural and Functional Studies of Hepaciviruses
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health burden that infects 1-2% of the world population and leads to ~500,000 deaths and an estimated 1.5-2 million new infections annually.
Direct-acting antivirals effectively treat HCV infection, yet face major issues making the development of additional therapeutics and an effective vaccine critical to prevent HCV spread.
Our research objectives are:
To achieve these objectives, we utilize structural (X-ray crystallography), biochemical and functional tools. A deep understanding of the interaction between HCV and the host cells and will be use to facilitate structural-based design of novel therapeutics and subunit vaccine immunogens for better controlling of HCV spread.
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![]() Telomeres & Telomerase The three-dimensional structure, function and regulation of telomeres and telomerase; Human genetic diseases caused by telomere dysfunction. |
![]() Germ Cells Development In our lab we aim to study the process of oocyte development from germ stem cells. In our studies we make use of novel techniques we develop like: 1. CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering and related manipulations. 2. Single oocyte transcriptome analysis. Our long term goal is to study these processes so we could understand the reasons for the decline in human oocyte quality, which leads to exponential increase in birth defects before a woman turns 40. |
Neurobiology of the Cerebellum Cellular physiology of central neurons. Subthreshold oscillations, resonance frequencies and rhythm generation in mammalian central nervous systems. |
Systems Biology & Neurogenetics As a Systems Biology lab we combine experiments and theory to understand the design principles of biological networks: 1) Computation and functional dynamics in neural circuits with a single neuron resolution. 2) Plasticity in neural networks (Learning and memory, aging, neurodegenerative diseases) 3) Phenotypic variability: from gene expression and neural activity to behavior 4) Evolutionary and functional genomics: Transcription networks and the relationship between gene expression and genome structure. |
![]() Visual Perception and its Neural Correlates Functional imaging of the human visual system. Coordinate transformations in the visual system. Active vision: the interplay between perception, attention, and eye movements. Interactions between vision and haptics. The human body image. Vision and action: the mirror system. Plasticity in the visual system following blindness. |