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Nurit Eliash

Honeybees and Mites lab

I am an entomologist investigating the intricate ecological and molecular interactions between honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their principal parasite, the Varroa destructor mite. My work blends chemical ecology, behavioural studies, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to uncover the mechanisms that shape host–parasite relationships and to translate these insights into sustainable solutions for modern agriculture.

I earned my M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture and the Volcani Center, where I combined transcriptomics, proteomics, electrophysiology, and genetic manipulations to decipher bee-mite communication. Afterward, I completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Japan, focusing on the genetics of Varroa populations and the viruses they transmit.

Since 2022 I have been a researcher at the Shamir Research Institute in the Golan Heights. In my lab we use economically important agricultural systems as model ecosystems, coupling field experiments with state-of-the-art “omics” and computational tools to address fundamental evolutionary questions while developing practical, environmentally sound pest-management strategies.

Research Interests
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  • Sustainable management of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies:

    • Development of bee-friendly pest control tools

    • Investigation of Varroa resistance mechanisms to pesticides

    • Study of the genetic inheritance patterns of Varroa destructor and how the mite maintains genetic diversity

    • Impact of climate change on the population dynamics of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies

    • Vector-virus interactions and their influence on viral epidemiology

    • Biological control of phytophagous mites in apple orchards

 

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