Prof Rotem Sorek studies the interactions between bacteria and the viruses that infect them (phages). He studies how phages attack bacteria, and how bacteria defend themselves against such attacks. Sorek discovered that bacteria encode a complex network of anti-phage immune systems, which were not known to science prior to his studies. He found that this bacterial immune system was the evolutionary origin of important components of the human innate immune system, a revelation that now helps us understand the mysteries of our own immune system.

Another profound contribution of Sorek is his discovery that viruses can use small-molecule communication to coordinate their infection dynamics. His studies were the first to show that viruses can communicate, representing a paradigm shift in virology and driving a new scientific field called “Sociovirology”.

Sorek’s discoveries now pave the way to the utilization of phages as a replacement for antibiotics, and also defined new families of bacteria-derived antiviral molecules that could be used to treat viral infections. Candidate therapeutic drugs are now being developed, based on Sorek’s findings, by a number of companies that were founded by Sorek and his colleagues.