In my lab, our goal is to understand and control microbial functional behaviors by utilizing methods from chemistry, life sciences, biotechnology, and modeling. This multidisciplinary approach was recognized by Nature Biotechnology in 2021, which highlighted our work in Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00847-1).
Our research is divided into five complementary fields in Microbiology, Microbiome Biology and Synthetic Biology:
1. Probiotics, Nutrition and Antimicrobial Metabolites
We study how nutrition shapes the metabolome, volatilome, and proteome of probiotic bacteria. In our recent study, we revealed that fermentation modifies cell wall thickness, aggregation, and biofilm formation properties. Furthermore, fermentable sugars induce the secretion of novel antimicrobial metabolites targeting pathogens like Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella enterica. These findings establish a critical link between carbohydrates and cell wall remodeling, paving the way for understanding probiotic interactions with pathogens and therapeutic applications.
Our recent manuscript was published in the Nature journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
2. Amoeba-Biofilm Interactions
We explore the interactions between parasites and bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Among other aspects. We study how amoebae degrade biofilms too large for phagocytosis by using a unique mechanism called digestive exophagy. The study uncovered the role of cysteine proteinases in breaking down biofilm components, such as Bacillus subtilis TasA, with potential therapeutic implications for treating biofilms and restoring antibiotic sensitivity.
Our recent manuscript was published in the Nature journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Biofilms are at the core of numerous drug-resistant infections. We are utilizing single-cell high-resolution imaging and tracking of microbial development, along with transcriptomics and modeling techniques, to understand how bacteria in complex communities move and respond to stress. Our methodology was featured as the cover story in the journal Science Signaling.
We continue to examine the roles of microbial extracellular fibers, amyloids and minerals in medicine, ecology, and biotechnology.
4. The Regulation of Antibiotic Production
We are utilizing novel sensors and microbiome analysis, to understand how bacteria in complex communities regulate antibiotic production and resistance. This manuscript was published in Nature Microbiology
5. Environmental Biofilms- From seawater to Dust storms
Our research, published in Communications Earth and Environment (part of the Nature portfolio), contributes to the growing field of atmospheric microbiology. Within this research, we study the survival and activity of Bacillus subtilis and related species while in the atmosphere, sometimes over thousands of kilometers, and their impact on global cycles, ecosystems, and human health. These processes significantly impact disease patterns, atmospheric CO₂ levels, plant diseases, and even antibiotic resistance dispersal.
The research was performed in collaboration with Dr. Naama Lang-Yona (Technion)
Our lab now extends the research of B. subtilis adaptation into plant-bacteria interactions, seawater microbiome and novel antibiotic discovery.