Disease-specific Research Programs

Disease-specific programs comprise a significant proportion of the research conducted at the Human Microbiology Institute. The founders of the HMI have made amazing studies in advancing our understating of the mechanisms by which the microbiota influences human diseases, including several diseases that were previously not considered to be infectious.

Our latest discoveries provide us with the ability to rethink how we treat and prevent neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases and to bring their therapy to a new level of efficacy

We have discovered principally new mechanisms of microbiota-host interactions, which provide a basis for the next-generation of microbiota research aimed at understanding how diseases, including age-related and neurodegenerative diseases, are developed and established, and at successfully identifying new ways of preventing and managing these disorders.

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor disturbances such as resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability, gait problems, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Our latest discoveries provide us with the ability to rethink how we treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and to bring its therapy to a new level of efficacybased onBacteriophages Concept of Human Diseases, the discovery of Prion-like Domains in Eukaryotic Viruses and the discovery of previously unknown factors in β–amyloid and tau misfolding.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord . Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt, or reverse, the progression of the disease.
Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an emerging neurodevelopmental pathology currently affecting 1 of 68 newborns. A single factor that leads to ASD has not been identified, but certain genes and environmental factors have been linked to its development.
Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory-mediated demyelinating neurodegenerative disease that sparks an inflammatory response. A single factor that leads to MS has not been identified, but certain genes and environmental factors have been linked to its development.
Oncology

Bacteria participate in the genesis of a variety of at least over 20% of all cancer cases are attributable to infectious agents. Microorganisms can promote carcinogenesis by inducing inflammation, release of PAMPs, increasing cell proliferation, altering stem cell dynamics, and producing metabolites such as butyrate, which affect DNA integrity and immune regulation.
Type 1 Diabetes

We were the first to show that particularbacteriophages lead to the death of certain bacterial populations, resulting in increased PAMPs release, which triggers seroconversion and type 1 diabetes development in human leukocyte antigen-susceptible children.
Age-related Infectious Diseases

Aging is associated with both a decline in the function of an organism and a greater risk for contracting infectious diseases. Many countries are now facing increased elderly populations and high prevalences of fatal age-related infectious pulmonary diseases, such as COPD and bacterial and fungal pneumonia, and non-respiratory infections such as periodontitis.
Antibiotic resistance/Novel Diagnostic Systems

While antibiotics have saved millions of lives worldwide, the continued emergence of resistant organisms worldwide has led to decreased effectiveness of these compounds.
Jewish Research

There are a number of genetic diseases that are more prevalent among individuals of Jewish heritage than in the general population. These diseases are prevalent in all Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jewish populations.
Other Focus Areas

HMI is also conducting research within neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity and autoimmunity where there is significant unmet medical need.