A5037778518- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Galectins and Cancer Biology
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Escherichia coli research studies
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2006-2025
Weizmann Institute of Science
2013-2024
Planta
2022
Ancient origin of cell death Gasdermins are proteins in mammals that form membrane pores response to pathogen infection. Johnson et al . report diverse bacteria encode structural and functional homologs mammalian gasdermins. Like their counterparts, bacterial gasdermins activated by caspase-like proteases, oligomerize into large pores, defend against pathogen—in this case, bacteriophage—infection. Proteolytic activation occurs through the release a short inhibitory peptide, many lipidated...
Finding bacterial cellular targets for developing novel antibiotics has become a major challenge in fighting resistant pathogenic bacteria. We present compound, Relacin, designed to inhibit (p)ppGpp production by the ubiquitous enzyme RelA that triggers Stringent Response. Relacin inhibits vitro and reduces vivo. Moreover, affects entry into stationary phase Gram positive bacteria, leading dramatic reduction cell viability. When is added sporulating Bacillus subtilis cells, it strongly...
Abstract Historically, multicellular bacterial communities, known as biofilms, have been thought to be held together solely by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Our study identified novel mechanism maintaining Bacillus subtilis and Mycobacterium smegmatis biofilms—active production of calcite minerals. We studied, for the first time, effects mutants defective in biomineralization formation on biofilm development, resilience morphology. demonstrated that an intrinsic rise carbon dioxide...
In nature, bacteria communicate via chemical cues and establish complex communities referred to as biofilms, wherein cells are held together by an extracellular matrix. Much research is focusing on small molecules that manipulate prevent biofilm assembly modifying cellular signalling pathways. However, the bacterial cell envelope, presenting interface between their surroundings, largely overlooked. our study, we identified specific targets within biosynthesis pathways of different wall...
Bacillus subtilis biofilms have a fundamental role in shaping the soil ecosystem. During this process, they unavoidably interact with neighbour bacterial species. We studied interspecies interactions between of soil-residing bacteria B. and related found that proximity triggered recruitment motile cells, which engulfed competing simplex colony. Upon interaction, secreted surfactin cannibalism toxins, at concentrations were inert to itself, eliminated colony, as well colonies toyonensis....
Root exudates are thought to play an important role in plant-microbial interactions. In return for nutrition, soil bacteria can increase the bioavailability of nutrients. However, root typically decrease situations such as drought, calling into question efficacy solvation and bacteria-dependent mineral uptake stress. Here, we tested hypothesis exudate-driven microbial priming on Cupressus saplings grown forest custom-made rhizotron boxes. A 1-month imposed drought concomitant inoculations...
In nature, bacteria predominantly exist as highly structured biofilms, which are held together by extracellular polymeric substance and protect their residents from environmental insults, such antibiotics. The mechanisms supporting this phenotypic resistance poorly understood. Recently, we identified a new mechanism maintaining biofilms - an active production of calcite minerals. work, high-resolution robust µCT technique is used to study the mineralized areas within intact bacterial...
Toxin-antitoxin modules are gene pairs encoding a toxin and its antitoxin, found on the chromosomes of many bacteria, including pathogens. Here, we characterize specific contribution TxpA YqcG toxins in elimination defective cells from developing Bacillus subtilis biofilms. On nutrient limitation, accumulated biofilm breaking symmetry. Deletion resulted accumulation morphologically abnormal cells, interfered with proper development multicellular community. Dual physiological responses...
Drug delivery via nanovehicles is successfully employed in several clinical settings, yet bacterial infections, forming microbial communities the form of biofilms, present a strong challenge to therapeutic treatment due resistance conventional antimicrobial therapies. Liposomes can provide versatile drug-vector strategy for biofilm treatment, but are limited by need balance colloidal stability with penetration. We have discovered liposomic functionalization strategy, using membrane-embedded...
Abstract Root systems form a significant part of tree biomass and function. Yet, roots are hidden from our eyes, making it difficult to track the belowground processes. By contrast, capacity detect aboveground changes in trees has been continuously improving using optical methods. Here, we tested two fundamental questions: (1) To what extent can responses mechanical damage root system? (2) redundant? We applied three different non-destructive remote sensing means: means derive leaf...
Abstract Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are common belowground tree symbionts, supplying trees with water and nutrients. In return, large amounts of C assimilated by can be allocated into EMF. However, the chemical forms in which is transferred from to under field conditions mostly unknown. this study, we aimed unravel fate tree‐derived We conducted 13 CO 2 pulse labelling Pinus halepensis two forest sites adjacent EMF sporocarps, combined a non‐targeted metabolomics profiling root sporocarp...
Abstract Gasdermin proteins form large membrane pores in human cells that release immune cytokines and induce lytic cell death. pore formation is triggered by caspase-mediated cleavage during inflammasome signaling critical for defense against pathogens cancer. Here we discover gasdermin homologs encoded bacteria execute prokaryotic Structures of bacterial gasdermins reveal a conserved pore-forming domain stabilized the inactive state with buried lipid modification. We demonstrate are...
Tree processes belowground are highly complex and strongly affect the soil carbon. Trees assimilate carbon allocate up to 20% of rhizosphere as root exudates. Rhizosphere in forest might have a significant global effect. Abiotic factors such intensified drought elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) will influence tree fluxes predicted under climate change. As trees play vital role maintaining Earth’s balance, ecological studies on crucial, especially light change.The effect elevation was...
Abstract Microbes employ toxins to kill competing microbes or eukaryotic host cells. Polymorphic are proteins that encode C-terminal toxin domains. Here, we developed a computational approach discover novel domains of polymorphic within 105,438 microbial genomes. We validated nine short (“PTs”) cause bacterial yeast cell death. The PTs encoded by ∼2.2% the sequenced bacteria, including numerous pathogens. also identified five cognate immunity genes (“PIMs”) neutralize toxins. Intriguingly,...
Abstract Root exudates are thought to play an important role in plant-microbial interactions. In return for nutrition, soil bacteria can increase the bioavailability of minerals. However, root typically decrease situations such as drought, calling into question efficacy bacteria-dependent mineral uptake stress. Here we tested hypothesis exudate-driven microbial priming on Cupressus saplings grown forest custom-made rhizotron boxes. A 1-month imposed drought and concomitant inoculations with...