• B.Sc. - 1968-1971 Tel Aviv University M.Sc. -1971-1975 Tel Aviv University, Department of Pathology Advisor: Prof. Lilian Barnea Title of Msc Thesis: Eosinopoietic stimulation in vivo and in vitro of mouse fetal liver: Development of the immune system. Ph.D.: 1980-1985 The Weizmann Institute, Department of Neurobiology Advisor: Prof. Michal Schwartz Title of Ph.D Thesis: Regulating pathways of the central nervous system regeneration process.

1. Pneumococcal Surface Proteins Involvement in Pathogenesis

1.1 Streptococcus pneumoniae cell-wall-residing phosphoenolpyruvate protein phosphotransferase can function as an adhesin: Identification of its host target molecules and evaluation of its vaccine potential.

1.2 Pneumococcal Surface Immunogenic Protein B (PsipB) is an NADP-Reductase that Protects Pneumococci from H₂O₂ and affects Bacterial Virulence.

1.3 The function in S. pneumoniae pathogenesis of the identified proteins and identification of their target molecules in the host

1.4 The direct and the indirect contribution of pneumococcal virulence factors to meningitis development.

• S. pneumoniae microbiology
• S. pneumoniae pathogenesis
• S. pneumoniae interaction with the host
• S. pneumoniae interaction with the host adaptive immune response and vaccine development
• S. pneumoniae interaction with the host innate immune response

• Biochemical and molecular viral and bacterial biology
• Cell biology
• Viral and bacterial pathogenesis
• Innate and adaptive immune response to pathogens

• Mizrachi Nebenzhal Y , Bernstein A, Portnoi M, Shagan M, Rom S, Porgador A, Dagan R. S. pneumoniae surface exposed glutamyl tRNA synthetase (GtS), a putative adhesin, able to induce protective immune response in mice. J Infect Dis.196:945-53. 2007
• Kafka D, Ling E, Feldman G, Benharroch D, Voronov E, Givon-Lavi N, Iwakura Y, Dagan R, Apte R.N, Mizrachi-Nebenzahl Y. Contribution of IL-1 to Resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection. INT Immunol. 20:1139-46. 2008.
• Elhaik-Goldman S, Kafka D, Yossef R , Hadad U, Elkabets M, Vallon-Eberhard A, Hulihel L, Jung § S , Ghadially H, Braiman A, Apte † RN, Mandelboim O, Dagan R, Mizrachi-Nebenzahl Y , Porgador A. The Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor 1 contribution to Early Clearance of Streptococcus Pneumoniae and to Natural Killer-Macrophage Cross Talk. PLoS One. 6:e23472, 1-12, 2011
• Muchnik, L., Adawi, A., Ohayon, A., Dotan, S, Malka, I., Azriel, S., Shagan, M., Portnoi, M., Kafka, D., Nahmani, H., Porgador, A., Gershon, J.M., Morrison, D.A., Mitchell, A., Tal, M., Ellis, R., Dagan, R., Mizrachi Nebenzahl, Y. 2013. NADH Oxidase Functions as an Adhesin in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Elicits a Protective Immune Response in Mice. PLoS ONE. 8:e61128. (3 citations IF:  3.730; 7/56; Q1)

• Ron Dagan: S. pneumoniae pathogenesis
• David Greenberg: S. pneumoniae pathogenesis
• Nurith Porath: Oxidative stress of S. pneumoanie Roni Apte: Innate immune response to S. pneumoniae
• Angel Porgador: Innate immune response to S. pneumonaie
• Esther Priel: Bacterial infection of human cells and topoisomerase response
• Natalie Elia: S. pneumoniae intration with the host
• Raz Zarivach: Crystalography of bacterial virulence factor and identification of novel inhibitors