The Israeli BAG

The Israeli BAG encompass most MX groups in Israel and is highly diverse and versatile in its scientific interests and convictions. In the last year some groups which are not regarded as genuine MX have been joining our BAG as users of the bioSAXS BM29 station adding to the diversity of the BAG. It is not straightforward to set descriptive summary that covers all the topics. A central theme in several BAG members could be regarded is molecular virology such as, the molecular basis for cell entry of viruses, from the Arenaviridae family of viruses, design of Vaccines against HVC by targeting HCV E2 envelope (Env) glycoprotein for neutralizing antibodies (nanobodies). The group of Rouvunski focuses on studying arthropod borne viruses (dengue, West Nile, Zika, Israel Turkey Meningoencephalitis) and recently coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, MERS, OC43) and their envelope proteins. On another approach we attempt to discover therapeutics against Chikungunya Virus by targeting the Clk1.

以色列BAG涵盖了以色列境内绝大多数大分子X射线晶体学（Macromolecular X-ray Crystallography，MX）研究组，其科研兴趣广泛多元，学术理念兼具包容性。过去一年间，部分未被视作正统MX研究组的团队以生物小角X射线散射（bioSAXS）BM29实验站使用者的身份加入本BAG，进一步丰富了本BAG的构成多样性。想要撰写一份全面覆盖所有研究主题的概述并非易事。
本BAG多名成员的核心研究主题可归于分子病毒学领域，例如：沙粒病毒科病毒的细胞入侵分子机制、以靶向丙型肝炎病毒（Hepatitis C Virus，HCV）E2包膜（Env）糖蛋白的中和抗体（纳米抗体）为靶点设计抗HCV疫苗。Rouvunski团队的研究聚焦于节肢动物传播病毒（登革病毒、西尼罗河病毒、寨卡病毒、以色列火鸡脑膜脑炎病毒）以及近期关注的冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2、MERS、OC43）及其包膜蛋白。此外，我们还尝试通过靶向Clk1开发抗基孔肯雅病毒的治疗药物。