{"id":2108,"date":"2023-08-10T11:48:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T09:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/?page_id=2108"},"modified":"2023-10-09T14:29:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T12:29:10","slug":"research-directions-new2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/?page_id=2108","title":{"rendered":"Research directions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lab-presentation-slide_edited_multilayer_2-1024x257.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lab-presentation-slide_edited_multilayer_2-1024x257.png 1024w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lab-presentation-slide_edited_multilayer_2-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lab-presentation-slide_edited_multilayer_2-768x193.png 768w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lab-presentation-slide_edited_multilayer_2.png 1356w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color\"><strong><a href=\"#multilayer\">Ecological Multilayer Networks<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color\"><a href=\"#microbes\"><strong>Microbial Ecology<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color\">  <strong><a href=\"#disease\">Disease Ecology<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Network analysis | Data analysis | Machine learning | Modeling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"97\" src=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-1024x97.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-1024x97.png 1024w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-300x28.png 300w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-768x73.png 768w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-1536x146.png 1536w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds-2000x190.png 2000w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/funds.png 2002w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"multilayer\"><strong>Structure and dynamics of ecological multilayer networks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"838\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/EMLN.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/EMLN.png 838w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/EMLN-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/EMLN-768x466.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>The study of networks has been a fundamental component of population and community ecology but ecological networks have been typically studied in isolation \u2013 that is, they involve a single type of interaction or represent a particular community that it is not connected to others. Recent advances in the field of multilayer networks in network science, together with an increase in the availability of adequate ecological data, now provide an exciting opportunity for ecologists to move beyond studies of isolated networks. In our research, we use <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41559-017-0101\" target=\"_blank\">ecological multilayer networks<\/a> to investigate the variation across interconnected ecological networks such as those interconnected in space, time, or involving several interaction types. We also use this framework to study socio-ecological networks in which human activities are directly connected to ecological nodes. In addition, we  develop methodology to facilitate and advance the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/2041-210X.13569?casa_token=yqErXAQpVxUAAAAA%3Av-du1EIRNctTITRbpvcrbz0aZHOh-iibmbNKmMv3gGmm4klr8jVBjwBo8e-IxAXZbTMQYzx3MTyuvEXdQg\" target=\"_blank\">analysis<\/a> of ecological multilayer networks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"microbes\"><strong>Ecology of microbes and mobile genetic elements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-1024x563.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-1024x563.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-768x422.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-1536x845.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/representative-image-bacteria-multilayer-2048x1126.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Microbes play a profound role in ecosystem functions, but mobile genetic elements such as phages and plasmids largely shape microbial populations. Studying the mechanisms that drive the eco-evolutionary dynamics of microbe and MGE communities is necessary to understand, anticipate, and modify microbes&#8217; effects on ecosystems. Nevertheless, existing studies ignore the vast diversity and non-random structure of these communities. We combine modeling, data analysis, and theory from ecological\/evolutionary and multilayer networks to study how the ecological and evolutionary processes dynamically shape the diversity and interaction networks of microbial and MGE communities at multiple levels of organization (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41559-020-01312-z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">phage-bacteria interactions<\/a>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"disease\"><strong>Disease ecology: Multihost-multiparasite interactions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/phd_ad_madagascar_hq.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>In nature, multiple parasite species spread across multiple host species, creating a web of direct and indirect effects on transmission dynamics. Considering multihost-multiparasite interactions in epidemiological models is a non-trivial task because of model complexities and the nonlinearity involved in predicting higher-level interactions from lower-level ones. Another challenge is to link the ecological interactions at the species level with disease transmission at the individual level. We study the structure of host-parasite networks and aim to develop epidemiological models that can explain their structure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ecological Multilayer Networks Microbial Ecology Disease Ecology Network analysis | Data analysis | Machine learning | Modeling Structure and dynamics of ecological multilayer networks The study of networks has been a fundamental component of population and community ecology but ecological networks have been typically studied in isolation \u2013 that is, they involve a single type &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/?page_id=2108\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Research directions&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2108","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2108"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2335,"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2108\/revisions\/2335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifewp.bgu.ac.il\/wp\/pilos\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}