Lab team - 2023
- Elad Chiel, PI
- Dr. Sarit Rohkin Shalom, lab manager
- Gal Wodowski, Ph.D. candidate. Co-supervised with Dr. Einat Zchori-Fein (Agriculture Research Organization)
- Maor Tomer, Ph.D candidate. Co-supervised with Dr. Rakefet Sharon (MIGAL & Tel-Hai College)
- Anna Dolgova, M.Sc candidate
- Abeer Wahby, M.Sc candidate
- Moran Bachner, M.Sc candidate
- Dareen Nasseraldin, B.Sc student, lab technician and in charge of optimism.
Research
Parasitoids of the genera Spalangia and Muscidifurax, which attack various fly species, harbor several species of bacterial symbionts. We study the ecology and evolution of these symbiotic interactions, for example: how have these interactions initiated, how do the symbionts influence the fitness of the wasps, how are the symbionts transmitted, and more. This research is performed in collaboration with the teams of Prof. Martin Kaltenpoth (Max Planck institute, Germany) and Prof. Colin Dale (University of Utah, USA). This project is supported by the NSF-BSF program.
Parasitoids of the genera Spalangia and Muscidifurax, which attack various fly species, harbor several species of bacterial symbionts. We study the ecology and evolution of these symbiotic interactions, for example: how have these interactions initiated, how do the symbionts influence the fitness of the wasps, how are the symbionts transmitted, and more. This research is performed in collaboration with the teams of Prof. Martin Kaltenpoth (Max Planck institute, Germany) and Prof. Colin Dale (University of Utah, USA). This project is supported by the NSF-BSF program.
The cucurbits fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus, is a major pest of cucurbits in Israel and its control is based on chemical pesticides only. We are searching for effective biocontrol agents to control this pest. This project is supported by the Israeli ministry of Agriculture.
Recently we identified three viral symbionts in Anagyrus vladimiri, a mealybugs parasitoid (see Izraeli et al., 2022 in the "Publications" page) . We now study the effects of these viruses on the wasp, their transmission modes and more. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Einat Zchori-Fein (Agriculture Research Organization) and Dr. Julien Varaldi (The Biometrics and Evolutionary Biology Lab, Villeurebanne, France). This project is supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF).
Lab alumni
Dr. Priscila Gomez-Polo, Postdoc.
Dr. Haim Biale, PhD.
Yehuda Izraeli, Ph.D. Co-supervised with Dr. Einat Zchori-Fein (Agriculture Research Organization).
Kfir Betelman, M.Sc.
Guy Wagner, M.Sc.
Tzlil Shitrit, M.Sc. Co-supervised with Dr. Liora Shealtiel (Tel Hai College).
Noam Tzuri, undergraduate.
Amit Semiatizki, undergraduate.
Maayan Wiesler, undergraduate.
Lihi Amit, undergraduate.
Maayan Franco, undergraduate.
Omer Lavy, undergraduate.
Noam Tzuri, undergraduate.
Hila Shamai, undergraduate.
Evan Esleem, undergraduate.
Roi Moskovich, undergraduate.
Dr. Priscila Gomez-Polo, Postdoc.
Dr. Haim Biale, PhD.
Yehuda Izraeli, Ph.D. Co-supervised with Dr. Einat Zchori-Fein (Agriculture Research Organization).
Kfir Betelman, M.Sc.
Guy Wagner, M.Sc.
Tzlil Shitrit, M.Sc. Co-supervised with Dr. Liora Shealtiel (Tel Hai College).
Noam Tzuri, undergraduate.
Amit Semiatizki, undergraduate.
Maayan Wiesler, undergraduate.
Lihi Amit, undergraduate.
Maayan Franco, undergraduate.
Omer Lavy, undergraduate.
Noam Tzuri, undergraduate.
Hila Shamai, undergraduate.
Evan Esleem, undergraduate.
Roi Moskovich, undergraduate.