Integrated Calendar

We study the assembly of programmable quasi-2D DNA compartments as “artificial cells” from the individual cellular level to multicellular communication. We will describe recent progress toward autonomous synthesis and assembly of cellular machines, synchrony, pattern formation, fuzzy decision-making, memory transactions, and electric field manipulation of gene expression.

Type I Interferons (IFN-Is) are anti-viral response cytokines, and are major candidate for treatment of SARS-CoV-2. In our study we investigated the mechanism in which SARS-CoV-2 evades early stage anti-viral response by inactivation of IFN-I production. To account for different possible cellular checkpoints in which the virus may ultimately block IFN production, we applied three cellular assays: promoter activity, IFN mRNA levels, and IFNβ secretion. SARS-CoV-2 genes NSP1, NSP5, NSP6, NSP15, ORF6 and ORF7b severely disrupted IFNβ production. Conversely, individual genes and live SARS-CoV-2 infected cells failed to block Interferon stimulated gene activation in response to added IFN-I, despite an inhibition of STAT1-phosphorylation mediated by NSP1. Our findings support a multi-gene process in which SARS-CoV-2 blocks IFN-production at early stages of infection, yet infected individuals can still benefit from the anti-viral effects of added IFN-Is.

Conventional hydrogeologic models employed to compute ocean island sustainable yields and aquifer storage neglect the nearshore and onshore submarine environment’s complexity. However, the onshore aquifer at the island of Hawaiʻi exhibits a significant volumetric discrepancy between high-elevation freshwater recharge and coastal discharge. This study presents a novel transport mechanism of freshwater moving from onshore to onshore via a multilayer formation of water-saturated layered basalts with interbedded low-permeability layers of ash/soil, as revealed by marine-controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) imaging. We propose that this newly discovered transport mechanism of fresh water may be the governing mechanism in other volcanic islands. Additionally, our water column CSEM imaging detects multiple vertical freshwater plumes extending from the seafloor to the ocean surface. These findings provide valuable information to elucidate hydrogeologic and oceanographic rocesses affecting biogeochemical cycles in coastal waters worldwide.

Normal brain function involves the interaction of internal processes with incoming sensory stimuli. We have created a series of brain imaging experiments (using 7T fMRI) that sample internal models and feedback mechanisms in early visual cortex. Primary visual cortex (V1) is the entry-stage for cortical processing of visual information. We can show that there are 3 information counter-streams concerned with: (1) retinotopic visual input, (2) top-down predictions of internal models generated by the brain, and (3) top-down imagery acting independently of the perception and prediction loop. Internal models amplify and disamplify incoming information, but there is also mental imagery not interfering with visual perception. Our results speak to the conceptual framework of predictive coding. Healthy brain function will strike a balance between the precision of prediction and prediction update based on prediction error. Our results incorporate state of the art, layer-specific ultra-high field fMRI and other imaging techniques. We argue that fMRI with its capability of measuring dendritic energy consumption is sensitive to activity in different parts of layer spanning neurons, enriching our computational understanding of counter stream brain mechanisms.

Zoom link to join:
https://weizmann.zoom.us/j/96608033618?pwd=SEdJUkR2ZzRBZ3laUUdGbWR1VFJTdz09

Meeting ID: 966 0803 3618
Password: 564068

Host: Dr. Rita Schmidt rita.schmidt@weizmann.ac.il tel: 9070

Zoom: Link: https://weizmann.zoom.us/j/98957854014?pwd=ZTEyazd6cThxUE90L3ZJbkdkbkFWQT09
passcode: 159170









Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-ionizing, non-invasive imaging modality that has become key in modern medicine. Its high value resides in a broad range of soft tissue contrasts or biomarkers that can be tuned to enable the identification and follow-up of many pathophysiological or metabolic processes. Such developments were made possible thanks to almost forty years of hardware and software development, yet access to MRI nowadays remains exclusive, bound to radiology suites in hospitals, and restricted to less than half of the world population. This limited accessibility is mostly due to its one-fits-all design and its prerequisites for intense magnetic field strength that impact cost, siting infrastructure, and clinical compatibility. One way to improve accessibility in MRI is to lower the magnetic field strength that will naturally influence cost, siting, and compatibility. Further, lowering the field strength can translate in smaller footprint designs which geometry and contrast could purposely be tuned to certain targeted applications. Indeed, relaxation mechanisms are known to change with the surrounding magnetic field, with larger T1 dispersion at low field that have for the most part been unexplored.
Although very promising, many challenges arise linked to the lower intrinsic nuclear spin polarization inherent to low field technologies, calling for original and innovative approaches to reach clinical relevance. During this seminar, Prof. Najat Salameh will describe those challenges and possible solutions by presenting the current landscape of low field imaging and recent progress made at the Center for Adaptable MRI Technology, Basel University.

Zoom Link:

https://weizmann.zoom.us/j/91657907719?pwd=M2F2WlRKWGRuUHlxN0tNWFhZVUVzZz09



The genetic material of live organisms is packed and stored within the nucleus. It contains DNA wrapped around the nucleosomes, which then organized into chromatin fibers that partition into distinct compartments, which eventually fill the entire nucleus. Chromatin three dimensional topology is essential for proper accessibility of transcription factors, which control tissue-specific gene expression programs. Whereas chromatin partition into specific domains has been described in cells in culture conditions, information regarding chromatin 3 dimensional distribution in tissues within live organisms is still missing. We have imaged the chromatin in muscle fibers of live, intact Drosophila larvae, and revealed its 3 dimensional structure. Our results demonstrate novel 3 dimensional architecture of the chromatin which is evolutionary conserved, and has important implications on the regulation of gene expression.