M. Shapira

Identification of intestinal mediators of Caenorhabditis elegans DBL-1/BMP immune signaling shaping gut microbiome composition

The paper identifies five intestinal DBL-1/BMP signaling targets that regulate Enterobacteriaceae abundance in C. elegans, suggesting they are part of an antibacterial response.

Microbiome remodeling through bacterial competition and host behavior enables rapid adaptation to environmental toxins.

This study shows that gut microbiomes can help animals adapt to environmental toxins through bacterial competition and host behavior, but this adaptation may come with trade-offs.

An Enterobacteriaceae bloom in aging animals is restrained by the gut microbiome

The paper identifies an Enterobacteriaceae bloom in aging animals as a common feature, showing its link to immune decline and susceptibility to infection, while highlighting the role of commensal competition in healthy aging.

Design and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine encoding RBD-PVXCP fusion protein

This paper develops a DNA vaccine encoding RBD-PVXCP fusion protein that induces strong antibody and cellular responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice and rabbits.

Distinct features of the Leishmania cap-binding protein LeishIF4E2 revealed by CRISPR-Cas9 mediated heterozygous deletion

This study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to delete one allele of LeishIF4E2 in Leishmania, revealing its role in morphology and proteome regulation, but not general translation.

ZnJ6 is a DnaJ-like Chaperone with Oxidizing Activity in the Thylakoid Membrane in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

ZnJ6 is a redox-regulated DnaJ-like chaperone associated with the thylakoid membrane and involved in the prevention of protein aggregation and stress endurance.

CeMbio - The C. elegans microbiome resource

The paper introduces CeMbio, a simplified natural microbiota for C. elegans, enabling causal studies of host-microbiome interactions through a resource with culturable strains and associated tools.