The different candidate proteins from mammalian gamete were evaluated with a set of experimental approaches to determine whether they are sufficient to mediate the fusion of cells in tissue culture conditions. In addition, we used virus systems to determine whether the candidates can substitute the viral fusogens during the infection of cells. During this work, optimization of the existing protocols for evaluation of the fusogenic activity of the proteins was performed and registered. During the reported period three articles were published: one peer-reviewed review article, one peer-reviewed research article and one pre-print research article. Furthermore, the results were presented in national and international scientific, like the Gordon Research Conference in Cell-Cell fusion 2022. In addition, different aspect of this project were presented in different activities to general audience as well as in social media.
During the development of the research and training project GENESIS, my skills and capabilities as researcher were significantly enhance. I had the opportunity to learn and improve state-of-the-art techniques to evaluate the ability of proteins to induce membrane fusion used commonly in Podbilewicz lab. In addition to the new experimental techniques that I have acquired, working in this project allowed me to improve my scientific management skills, mentoring experience and networking opportunities. I was actively involved not only in writing of reports and scientific papers, but also the submission of grants and reviewing of papers.
I was involved in the mentoring and training of undergraduate students and participated as a lecturer in different courses related to Developmental biology and reproduction. Finally, throughout the reported period I had the chance to interact and collaborate with researchers from the Technion, other prestigious research centers in Israel, and collaborators in Europe, North and South America and Asia. Altogether, the activities performed during GENESIS significantly impulse my personal growth towards scientific independence.
