January 2022: Eldar on Virus communication

A new study, led by Prof. Avigdor Eldar, Edmond J. Safra affiliate, published in Nature Microbiology, suggests that bacteria-eating viruses (phages) make informed decisions about whether the time has come to exit the dormant state and attack their bacterial host, based on communication with other phages. The main new discovery is the fact that phages use communication even in their dormant state. When the host shows signs of substantial DNA damage, it is in the phage's interest to leave it and try to infect other bacteria.

The study was featured in the Israeli online newspapers JPOST and YNET.