ERA-NET PathoGenoMics Announces Winners of the Ph.D. Award for 2010

PÉCS, Hungary--(Business Wire)--
ERA-NET PathoGenoMics, an initiative of the European Commission aimed at
advancing transnational genome-based research programs on human-pathogenic
microorganisms, announced today the winners of the Ph.D. Award 2010 for the most
outstanding Ph.D. theses in this field. The three winners, awarded 2000 € each,
are Dr. Itay Tirosh from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, Dr.
Andreja Kovač from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and Dr. Cristina Latasa
from the Public University of Navarra, Spain. The award ceremony took place at
the joint meeting of ERA-NET PathoGenoMics and network of excellence
EuroPathogenomics held in Pécs, Hungary.

"This year we evaluated 8 candidate theses, recommended by the ERA-NET partners,
all of which presented high quality and innovative science. The winners were
chosen based on excellence in scientific quality and impact of the work, quality
of publications and the theoretical approach underlying the research," said Dr.
Marion Karrasch-Bott, Coordinator of ERA-NET PathoGenoMics.

About Pathogenomics

Pathogen infections are among the leading causes for disease and mortality
throughout the globe. As more pathogenic strains develop resistance to existing
drugs, the race for finding novel anti-bacterial and anti-fungal drugs becomes
ever more urgent. The field of pathogenomics utilizes data acquired by genomics
and related methods in order to better characterize pathogenic bacteria and
fungi, interactions between different strains, and interactions between the
pathogen and the human host. Pathogenomics has already been invaluable in
understanding pathogenic evolution and diversity, in characterizing novel
virulence factors, and in paving the way towards designing new diagnostic tests
and drugs that will help keep humankind abreast of ever-changing pathogens.

About the Chosen Ph.D. Theses

Itay Tirosh received the award for elucidating the evolution of gene expression
regulation on a genome-wide scale. Deciphering the mechanisms underlying the
phenotypic variation among different species is crucial to our understanding of
evolution. For decades, scientists have primarily focused on mutations that
change the protein-coding part of genes as the main driver of phenotypic
variation. However, we now realize that organisms are not merely defined by
their ensemble of genes, but also by how these genes are regulated, and gene
regulation is a major source of variation between species. Dr. Tirosh studied
and compared the genetic regulatory programs of different yeast species, and
showed that the expression regulation of some genes undergoes an accelerated
evolution, thus enabling a more rapid divergence of species.

Andreja Kovač received the award for discovering compounds that could serve as
novel antibiotic drugs. By using computational methods followed by biochemical
analysis, Dr. Kovač identified novel inhibitors of enzymes involved in
biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. Some of the inhibitors already showed
promising antibacterial activities. Dr. Kovač's work is an important part of the
never ending battle against emerging multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of
pathogenic bacteria - one of the serious medical threats in modern healthcare.

Cristina Latasa received the award for studying biofilm formation in Salmonella,
the pathogen responsible for the foodborne illness salmonellosis. A biofilm is
an aggregate of microorganisms in which cells adhere to each other and/or to a
surface. The creation of biofilm helps bacteria resist external threats such as
antibiotics and sanitizers. In the case of Salmonella, biofilm also contributes
to effective infection of vegetables and industrial facilities. Dr. Latasa
characterized a new protein involved in Salmonella biofilm formation and host
colonization, as well as pointed to a biochemical pathway that can be perturbed
in order to prevent biofilm formation. Biofilms have been found to be involved
in a wide variety of microbial infections in the body, and understanding the
process of biofilm formation and ways to disrupt it are crucial for developing
efficient antimicrobial drugs.

About ERA-NET PathoGenoMics

ERA-NET PathoGenoMics, an initiative funded by the European Commission, has been
set up to establish sustained co-operation between national funding bodies and
to co-ordinate their genome-based research programs on human-pathogenic
microorganisms. Headed by Dr. Marion Karrasch from Juelich, Germany, the
participating ERA-NET PathoGenoMics partner countries and funding institutions
include: Austria, Federal Ministry for Science and Research (BMWF) and The
Austrian Science Fund (FWF); Finland, Academy of Finland (AKA); France, Institut
Pasteur (IP), and The National Agency for Research (ANR); Germany, Federal
Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and Project Management Juelich (PTJ);
Hungary, Hungarian Academy of Science (HAS) and Hungarian Scientific Research
Fund (OTKA); Israel, The Chief Scientist Office, Israeli Ministry of Health
(CSO-MOH); Portugal, The Science and Technology Foundation (FCT); Slovenia,
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MHEST); Spain, Ministry of
Science and Innovation. For further information, please visit
www.pathogenomics-era.net.

ERA-NET PathoGenoMics
Tsipi Haitovsky, Media Liaison
+972-52-598-9892
tsipih@netvision.co.il

Copyright Business Wire 2010