Raul Zavaliev
Assistant Professor of Cell Biology 
Zavaliev Lab
Education
M.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Tel Aviv University
B.S. Biology, Tel Aviv University
Expretise
Research
My lab studies the plant immune system and its relationship with growth and developmental processes. We use plant-bacteria disease models to understand how host immune responses reprogram cellular homeostasis and tissue organization during pathogenesis. Our goal is to uncover novel molecular mechanisms that coordinate immunity across cell types and tissues and to determine how these processes impact cell identity and survival.
Plants are unique organisms for studying multicellularity and intercellular communication because their cells are immobile and remain interconnected throughout development. One of our main research directions is the identification of cell-to-cell signaling pathways involved in the establishment of systemic immunity in plants. We are particularly interested in understanding how cellular identity following differentiation determines cell's ability to detect danger, mount immune responses, and communicate these signals to other cells.
To address these questions, we use bacterial pathogens and their effecor proteins to probe host responses both in susceptible and resistant interactios. We look at how differentiated cells perform their primary physiological functions while responding to pathogen attack, and how effectively they are able to activate and communicate immunity across the tissue.
Our lab is part of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and is located in the Science Building of the Kennesaw campus.
To leran more about our research and open positions please visit Zavaliev Lab website.
