Research

Research interests: Molecular biology, cell biology, phage, phage-bacteria interactions, bacterial immunity, CRISPR-Cas

Rotem Sorek is an Israeli geneticist and molecular biologist. His groundbreaking contributions led to better understanding of the “immune system” of bacteria. In particular, Sorek has discovered numerous immunity mechanisms that bacteria use to protect themselves against viruses - the so-called phages. Sorek is also credited with the discovery that important components of the human innate immune system have evolved from many bacterial defense systems.

Rotem Sorek's team deciphered the molecular mechanisms that bacteria use to fight off infection, which are called the bacterial “immune system”. They investigated how bacteria fight against viruses – the so-called phages – that can attack and destroy bacteria. His research led to the realisation that bacteria encode a complex network of over 100 anti-phage immune systems. One of the most significant insights from Sorek's studies is the discovery that key components of the human innate immune system originated in evolution from ancient bacterial systems that protect against phages.Sorek has developed computational and experimental platforms that systematically search for new immune systems in microbial genomes, leading to the discovery of new, widespread multi-gene immune systems. His studies have generated a new field in microbiology that meanwhile involves numerous laboratories worldwide.

One of the most important findings from Sorek's studies is the discovery that key components of the human innate immune system have originated from bacterial defense against phages. Examples include genes with so-called Toll Interleukin Receptor (TIR) domains and the cGAS-STING pathway, which was originally discovered in animals. This provides evidence for a common, ancient ancestry of innate immunity components shared between animals, plants, and bacteria. Sorek's discoveries explained the evolution of the human innate 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, and they represent a paradigm shift in virology.

Career

• since 2018 Full Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
• 2014-2018 Associate Professor, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
• 2008-2014 Senior Scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
• 2007 Ph.D.  Human Genetics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 2006-2008 Post-doctoral Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, USA
• 2002 M.Sc. Genetics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 2000-2005 Compugen Ltd. Group Leader, Genomic Basic Research, Cholon, Israel
• 2000 B.Sc. Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Functions

• since 2020 Member, Editorial Board, Cell
• 2014-2017 Associate Editor, Genome Biology and Evolution
• 2009-2018 Member, Editorial Board, BioEssays

Awards and memberships

• 2023 Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award, Max Planck Society, Munich, Germany and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Berlin, Germany
• 2023 Nakasone Award, Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), Strasbourg, France
• 2022 Michael Bruno Memorial Award, Israel Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS), Jerusalem, Israel
• 2022 Landau Prize, Mifal Hapais, Tel Aviv, Israel
• since 2022 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2021 The Andre Deloro Prize for Scientific Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
• 2021 Member, American Academy of Microbiology
• 2021 Rappaport Prize in Biomedical Research, The Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Foundation, Haifa, Israel
• 2019 Beutler Research Program Award for Excellence in Genomic Medicine, Haifa, Israel
• 2018 Member, American Academy of Microbiology, USA
• 2006 Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
• 2016 Scientific Council Prize, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
• 2015 Member, European Academy of Microbiology
• 2014 Anniversary Prize, Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
• 2013 Teva Founders Award for outstanding young scientists in Life Sciences, ISEF Foundation, New York City, USA
• 2012 Member, Young Israel Academy of Sciences, Israel
• 2012 The Rubinowitz-Grossman Prize for outstanding young scientists, Israel Society for Microbiology, Israel
• 2010 Young Investigator, EMBO
• 2009 Alon Fellowship, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 2008 Clore Prize, Clore Duffield Foundation, London, UK
• 2006 The RNA Society/Scaringe Young Scientist Award, The RNA Society, McLean, USA
• 2005 Fellowship, Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB), Madison, USA
• 2004 Doctoral Prize, Clore Duffield Foundation, London, UK
• 2001 National Excellence Award, Israeli House of Representatives, Israel
• 1999 De-Shalit Foundation Award, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel