Microbiology in Israel

In the five laboratories in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Rehovot which were visited, microbiology is studied very actively. At the University of Tel Aviv birth defects due to viruses, and antiviral proteins from Staphylococcus aureus, and at the Hebrew University, Dept. of Virology in Jerusalem the structure of arboviruses are studied. At the Government Central Laboratories in Jerusalem, the National Centers for Cholera, Streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae and Immunohematology as well as the District Diagnostic Laboratory and the Serum and Vaccine Institute are situated. The Streptococcus Laboratory is particularly active in studying antibodies in patients and in typing strains of bacteria encountered in Israel. The hospital laboratory at Tel Hashomer provides an example of useful work under less than ideal conditions. The Weizmann Institute has three departments: cell biology, genetics and chemical immunology where basic research on cellular immunity, cellular differentiation and specificity of antibody formation is carried out. This institute has a staff which includes leaders in their fields of study. The work of this institute is considered among the best to be found in cellular biology in the world today. (Author)