HOME / Research Group

Research Group

New Research Reveals Brown Widow Spiders in Israel Carry Unique Bacteria

New Research Reveals Brown Widow Spiders in Israel Carry Unique Bacteria

10 July, 2024

 

Brown widow spiders, scientifically known as *Latrodectus geometricus*, are swarming Israel. Recent research reveals that 86% of these spiders carry a strain of Rhabdochlamydia, a bacterium related to Chlamydia. However, it's important to note that bites from these spiders do not transmit Chlamydia.

men

Avi Shmida

FELLOW
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Avi is a professor in the Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research interests are: evolutionary ecology: pollination; diversity and conservation; and sex types in plants "Red" and endangered species.

men

Reimund Leicht

FELLOW
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Reimund is a professor in the Department of Jewish Thought at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research interests are Jewish philosophy and science in the Middle Ages, Jewish cultural history in late Antiquity, Johannes Reuchlin, and Christian Kabbala.
men

Alexander Levitzki

FELLOW
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Alexander is a professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
fellow

Jonathan Simon

FELLOW
UC Berkeley School of Law
Jonathan Simon is a Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Society.
men

Kenneth Stow

FELLOW
University of Haifa
Kenneth is a professor in the Department of Jewish History at the University of Haifa. His research interests are Jewish life in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.