In an ever-changing world and in a hostile region, the ability to reliably and consistently diagnose biological threats is essential to the national and global security and safety. IIBR leads the national efforts to counter any and all biological threats from intentional attacks as well as naturally-emerging diseases. Using a multi-disciplinary project strategy, combined with cutting-edge technologies, we develop methods for the detection and identification of various bio-threats. IIBR's multi-disciplinary R&D groups are engaged in the development of rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic methods for detection and identification of pathogens and bioterrorism threat agents. The methods are tailored for a variety of matrices such as clinical specimens, food and environmental samples, each characterized by a vastly different and complex background.

• Novel diagnostic markers, vaccines and therapeutic strategies for prophylaxis and treatment of microbial infectious diseases caused by common world bio-threat agents are developed on the basis of studies aimed at deciphering the mechanisms of virulence and host-pathogen interactions manifested in the course of infection and disease progression. • Novel virulence factors of highly-pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis were identified by high through-put global inspection approaches implementing a variety of techniques: proteomic (concomitant visualization and identification of bacterial proteins), functional genomic (functional evaluation of all the genomic repertoire of a pathogen), serological/immunomic (determination of the antigenic potential of a large number of proteins). • Our ongoing research in Virology has revealed new, important insights about the human immune system response to viruses • We also study the effects of protein toxins such as Clostridum Botulinum toxin and Plant derived toxins • These studies generated data bases of potential protein candidates which are further evaluated by inspecting the phenotype associated with their specific gene disruption in animal models of infection. Some virulence factors may serve as disease bio-markers for early diagnosis of infection while others may be implemented in the designing process of novel live attenuated vaccines. Bioinformatic and experimental Identification of specific bacterial epitopes involved in the interaction with host specific immune receptors and mediators can pave the way for future approaches addressing vaccine development in the context of personal medicine. (20-30 references of last 7 years to be provided).

The labs for environmental microbiology and biotechnology, as well as the National reference lab for Rickettsiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Leptospirosis diseases, are two specialized, extremely-professional labs dedicated to the unique biological services offered at IIBR .

The Department of Biotechnology conducts advanced research in basic and applied biotechnology. Highly-experienced R&D teams develop and manufacture biopharmaceutical products from laboratory scale through pilot small scale production and up to large scale production. The skills and expertise of the IIBR team enable systematic process development starting from proof -of- concept material generation for preclinical programs, and up to Phase I clinical trials according to international regulatory guidelines. The multi-product cGMP biopharmaceutical production facility at IIBR includes several unit operations customized to produce recombinant proteins, cell-derived products and vaccines.

As a governmental research institute, the activity of the IIBR’s biology division is concentrated around applied biomedical research. We focus on the critical needs of healthcare systems, especially during crisis and emergency situations.