We are interested in understanding how enzymes evolve new functions and biochemical traits and how they adapt to their environment. We implement this knowledge to use directed enzyme evolution to design new tailor-made enzymes with improved characteristics that can be used for food, environmental and agricultural applications. projects in the lab include
Deciphering the role of enzyme-based disruption mechanisms in microbial interactions and their effect on plant sensitivity to pathogens
Identifying and Engineering Quorum Quenching enzymes as an antimicrobial strategy
Design better enzymes for xenobiotics bioremediation (such as pesticides and plastic)
Academic Education
2012-2013 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The laboratory of Prof. Colin Jackson, Research School of Chemistry. The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2006-2012 Ph.D., May 2012. Thesis advisor: Prof. Dan Tawfik, the Department of Biological Chemistry, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
2004-2006 M.Sc. December 2006. Thesis advisor: Prof. Dan Tawfik, the Department of Biological Chemistry, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
2001-2004 B.Sc., 2004, with honors. Combined degree in Chemistry and Biology, the Faculty of Exact Sciences and the Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Academic Employment
October 2022 - Senior Lecturer, academic senior staff, the faculty of Science and Technology, Tel-Hai Academic College, Israel
October 2016 - Lecturer, Tel-Hai Academic College, Israel
July 2017 - Principal Investigator, Migal – Galilee Research Institute, Israel.
November 2013- April 2017- Research Associate, Migal – Galilee Research Institute.
Scientific Publications
Mining marine metagenomes revealed a quorum-quenching lactonase with improved biochemical properties that inhibits the food spoilage bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens
Bacterial Quorum-Quenching Lactonase Hydrolyzes Fungal Mycotoxin and Reduces Pathogenicity of Penicillium expansum-Suggesting a Mechanism of Bacterial Antagonism
Identification and Characterization of a New Quorum-Quenching N-acyl Homoserine Lactonase in the Plant Pathogen Erwinia amylovora
10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00366