Katz Ofir Ph.DEcology | ADSSC

Katz Ofir Ph.D

Ecology

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Ofir Katz Ph.D

Research Area:
EARTHLIFE: Integrative and Desert Ecology Laboratory

ofir@adssc.org
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Fields of interest

I study morphological and anatomical traits that contribute to plant adaptation to extreme environments, and especially the accumulation of silicon and other inorganic materials in plants. I am especially interested in the environmental factors that drive the magnitude and distribution of these traits and how these traits affect plant community and ecosystem properties and functioning. Other parts of my work deal with the evolutionary history of these traits as part of plant and ecosystem evolutionary history, and with the response of desert ecosystems to natural and human-made disturbances.

Group members

Yamit Marom – Lab manager
Chanania Vorst – M.Sc. student: Biogeography of silicon contents in the flora of Israel
Iris Eshed – Insect monitoring and biological control
Gidon Kedem – Field and laboratory technician

Current Projects

Biogeography of silicon contents in the flora of Israel and its relation to ecosystem functioning
Funding: Israel Science Foundation
CI: Marcelo Sternberg, TAU
Trophic allometric ecosystem analysis: water and keystone species in a hyper-arid region
Funding: UTI Foundation
Co-PI: Shai Meiri, TAU
Insect monitoring, management and control
Funding: Tamar Regional Council
Ecological monitoring in the Ze’eilm alluvial fan
Funding: Dead Sea Works
Vegetation monitoring following industrial pollution in Nahal Ashalim
Funding: Israel Nature and Parks authority and HaMa’arag

Publications:

The Skin Research Institute

Research topics:

The Skin Research Institute, which is part of the Dead Sea Branch of DSASC, leads applied research and innovative product development for the improved health and function of human skin. Areas of research and development combine cosmetics, dermatology and medicine. The institute’s researchers have extensive experience working with the natural resources unique to the Dead Sea and desert environment, i.e., minerals found in water, soil and air, atmospheric conditions (radiation, oxygen pressure), and endemic medicinal plants.

The flora and fauna of the Dead Sea region are often studied as they have developed special mechanisms for coping with the threats and stressors that are constantly exerted on them by the extreme environment. These stressors include a salt-saturated environment, the very hot and dry climate, scarce fresh water, high ultraviolet radiation and various pests.

The institute’s researchers define skin as the outer surface area of any body, hence research is extended to includes not only human skin but also the skin (or fur) of various animals, the outer microbial coating of desert plants (leaves for instance) and the upper layer of waterbodies such as the Dead Sea itself and the sinkholes that have formed at its shores.

Many studies conducted at the Skin Research Institute and the Dead Sea Branch strive to understand the coping mechanisms of organisms in nature for the benefit of humans. For example, DNA protection and repair mechanisms in halophilic bacteria, and microbial biofilm that forms around the leaves of acacia trees and provides protection from intense solar radiation.

Combining knowledge with innovation – collaborations between scientists developing skin models and microbiologists. Research to examine the feasibility of producing dermatological substances based on bacteria from the environment. In this study, microbiology is applied to experiments using the human skin model.

Areas of expertise and ongoing research:

Investigating the effect of nutrition on skin function;
Locating, isolating and developing natural materials to treat dermatological problems;
Investigating the skin’s natural defense mechanisms against ultraviolet radiation;
Development of unique and innovative models for research based on living human skin tissues (donated from plastic surgery) on three-dimensional structures of artificial skin and isolated skin cells. These models enable to assess the effect of unknown active ingredients on the skin in a wide range of parameters, such as tissue viability assessment, toxicity threshold, easing inflammation, wound healing, skin irritation, oxidants and antioxidants, sun protection, anti-aging, skin permeability, elasticity healing and more;
Development of alternatives to experimenting on animal;
Development of new molecules for dermatological treatments;
Development and establishment of laboratory models based on human tissues for studying burn processes, wounds and treatment;
Discovery of desert and marine plants with beneficial cosmetic or medicinal potential, developing methods for preparing extracts from all parts of the plant, testing the extracts using the various research models to prove the properties of the plants and how they affect the skin. The profound study of herbs, from the basic assessments to the commercialization of products, requires extensive collaborations with scientists specializing in areas such as chemistry, agriculture, botany, business and manufacturing;
Examining the effects of the environment (air pollution, radiation, etc.) and metabolic strains on the skin;
Examining the efficacy and safety of dermo-cosmetic substances and preparations;
Absorption of substances through skin tissues, artificial membranes or other medium;
Examining the effect of active ingredients that protect against skin cancer – inhibiting growth, preventing metastasis growth, invasion to the body’s cells and cell adhesion;
Research and development of cannabis-based products (under the Medical Cannabis Unit of the Ministry of Health).

The Skin Research Institute and its researchers are well equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for working with cell cultures, bacteria, viruses and fungal cells on petri dishes, with human or animal tissue cultures, reconstructed skin systems and more. They have advanced spectrophotometers, plate readers, and UHPLC for biochemical, biological and chemical analyses, a unique SPF / UVAPF device to test the sun-screening capacity of preparations, extracts and fabrics, advanced microscopy including fluorescence, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) live cell imaging, and equipment for histology. In addition, UVA, UVB, UVC and IR lamps for studying the effects of solar radiation and protective materials on cultures and tissues are available.

To prepare active ingredients and formulae for research, from plant extracts to final products, the institute’s laboratories are equipped with an innovative system for the parallel production of extracts under different conditions and solvents (ASE350), evaporators, blenders, drying ovens, radiation spectrum meters (natural or artificial) and more.

The institute provides research services for skin health and product development to cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries:

The Skin Research Institute provides research and experimental services for a cost. It also manages diverse collaborations: sale of preclinical research services to cosmetic, dermatology and medical start-ups, based on the extensive knowledge and experience of the staff, using the unique experimental models developed on site, and relying on a very wide range of advanced equipment and world-class technological capabilities. The research team has experience advising and building experimental setups customized for each client’s requirements. The research team is accustomed to leading experiments designed to be presented to relevant regulatory bodies, for patent registration or for business development, and has raised significant funds from investors. The research support team is committed to providing customer service, trial and reporting protocols, accuracy, reliability, discretion and tight schedules. Each research project is led by a PhD level researcher who maintains direct contact with the client. If required, the researchers of the institute consult with associated professional experts, who can provide great added value where needed.

Feel free to contact us for further questions or requests.

Research group:

Leading researcher: Dr. Navit Ogen-Stern

Chief Scientist, Research Services: Dr. Guy Cohen

Operations and business manager: Oren Raz

The team:

Raanan Gvirtz; raanan@adssc.org

PhD candidate – supervisors: Dr. Guy Cohen and Dr. Aryeh Grossman (Bar Ilan University)

Noy Eretz Kdosha; noy@adssc.org

Biology student, research assistant for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries

Current research: Drug development using substances that counteract the effects of the environment on the skin

Margarita Yarmanko; margarita@adssc.org

Engineering student, research assistant for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries

Research area: Development of skincare products

Microbiology

Research topics:

The microbiology research group focuses its efforts on understanding the physiology and interactions between microorganisms in extreme environmental conditions such as the Dead Sea. The researchers study communities of unique bacteria found in water, soil and plants of arid regions, in attempt to locate and identify bacterial populations that express genes with interesting metabolic activity that may potentially be harnessed for the benefit of mankind and the environment.

In addition, the group is developing microbiological engineering systems designed to improve various processes in a variety of fields, such as: wastewater treatment methods, biofilm development for environments such as the ocean, production of cosmetic products, oral and dental health solutions and more. The preliminary results have shown potential for wide-ranging applications. Collaborations in the field of agriculture are expected to expand.

Another fascinating and challenging research topic is “NewSpace”, a term that emphasizes that space is becoming accessible to more people than ever. More people are expected to work and live in space, in increasing numbers as time progresses, thanks to significantly lower launch costs and new space technologies. The objective of our current project is to support humans living and working in space, especially those in outposts and planetary bases. For the first time ever, in a project currently underway, a unique Space Multi-Species Photobioreactor (SMS-PBR] has been designed, developed and built to enable the utilization of spent rocket fuel, CO₂ and other waste products to produce breathable oxygen and other nutrients. Scientists of the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center are collaborating on this project with Bar-Ilan University, Afeka College and VTS energy Ltd. The SMS-PBR facility will remotely monitor the growth of organisms such as algae, bacteria and even fish. Currently, researchers are studying the toxic space fuel (hydrazine) as a possible nutritional source for bacteria and algae adapted to thrive in extreme conditions. The project includes the detection and development of strains that will be grown in SMS-PBR together with the development of a suitable photobioreactor cell. Researchers are striving to significantly improve waste utilization, the safety and health of staff, and implement efficient resource use while reducing space mission costs. This study was funded by the Israel Space Agency and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel. Collaborations are welcome.

Research group:

Leading researcher: Dr. Ashraf Al-Ashhab

The team:

Dr. Reut Sorek-Abramovich

Rebecca Alexander-Shani; Director of the Microbiome Laboratory

Microbiology and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of bacterial communities

Hydrology of desert water and the Dead Sea Basin

Research topics:

Our research focuses on the characterization of stream hydrodynamics and sediment and suspended particle fluxes during flooding of ephemeral streams in arid and semi-arid climates. Although stream sediment transport processes are of great scientific, engineering and environmental importance, very little is known regarding the effect of flash floods with irregular flow patterns on these sediments. Flooding streams in agricultural and inhabited areas, blockages of water reservoirs, transport routes and dams, and the stability of structures within and around flow channels (e.g. collapse of bridges and dams due to flooding) are of particular interest. To learn more, we examine the effects of flow characteristics on particle transport processes. Data for these projects is collected using advanced equipment and methods including geophone, hydrophone, radar speed gun, Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) and three-way velocimeter for high-resolution quantification of flow characteristics, and sediment and suspended particle fluxes.

As part of the study, an innovative method was developed to calibrate the sediment trap data (to monitor particulate fluxes), based on the change in cumulative sediment mass, and not as generally measured according to fixed time intervals. This method reduces background noises during low flow and prevents masking of true data during high flow events. It therefore more accurately represents the temporal changes of sediment fluxes.

Current projects:

· Characterization of hydrodynamics and sediment fluxes in flood surges;

· Using the LSPIV method to determine flow rates in flooding streams;

· The hydrology of the Tze’elim Basin: flow rates, application of an existing hydrological model of the area and working with ICL Dead Sea Works to develop a new flood warning system;

· How the construction of the Dead Sea water pipeline to the ICL plant pools affects the Nahal Tze’elim alluvial fan;

· Live broadcast of flash floods.

The Desert Floods Research Center conducts additional research on hydrology and floods in the desert, and continuously collects data.

Research group:

Lead researcher: Dr. Eran Halafi

The team:

Yaron Nitka-Nakash; yaron@adssc.org

Research technician; hydrology; Dead Sea Branch

Projects: Flood monitoring, data management, gathering of information regarding hydrology-infrastructure in the Dead Sea, fieldwork focusing on erosional processes in Nahal David and Kedem, fieldwork in Nahal Ashalim, fieldwork in research and development of flood monitoring methods using remote sensing methodologies.