David Gidalevitz

Education

Urals State Polytechnic Institute (now Urals Federal University), Russia, Diploma, Engineering Physics (1988)

Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, PhD, Chemistry, Materials and Interfaces (1996)

Research Interests

My research is centered on experimental biophysics, with a focus on determining molecular structures at soft interfaces. Specifically, I investigate the fundamental properties of cell membranes and surfactant films, and their interactions with small molecules, peptides, and proteins. Using synchrotron X-ray scattering techniques—such as specular reflectivity, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), and grazing incidence off-specular scattering (GIXOS)—we study lipid and lipid-protein films that model biological membranes.

A key area of our work centers on the structure-function relationships of pulmonary surfactant films that line the alveoli of the lungs. Our X-ray scattering studies of calf surfactant films and synthetic surfactant mimics have led to the hypothesis that the film structure likely consists of a 3:1 mixture of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol. These results challenge the prevailing view that surfactant proteins primarily resist film collapse, suggesting instead that lipid-cholesterol mixtures may play a more central role in maintaining film stability.

In addition to studying pulmonary surfactant films, my lab investigates the interactions of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and peptidomimetics with lipid membranes. Our findings reveal that the antimicrobial activity of these peptides depends on both their structure and the lipid composition of the target membrane. Specifically, we have shown that antibacterial activity correlates with moderate hydrophobicity and a net cationic charge, whereas hemolytic activity is primarily associated with peptides exhibiting high hydrophobicity and a strongly amphipathic structure, regardless of their secondary structure.

We have also explored the potential of acyl-lysine OAK mimics of host defense peptides as anticancer agents. These peptidomimetics demonstrate in vitro anticancer activity by selectively targeting mono- and disialylated gangliosides. Our X-ray scattering data provide the first evidence of peptidomimetic intercalation into the sialo-oligosaccharides of glycosylated lipid membranes. Based on these observations, we propose a dualistic mechanism of action for OAKs: a carpet-like disruption of cellular integrity, coupled with interference in chromatin organization and nuclear assembly. We believe our findings could pave the way for novel, glycosylation-targeted therapies for malignant tumors.

Publications

• Fazle R. Dayeen, Bret A. Brandner, Wei Bu, Stephen B. Hall, David Gidalevitz, Structural determinants of collapse by a monomolecular mimic of pulmonary surfactant at the physiological temperature, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 5745-5753, doi: DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00481g
• Michael W Martynowycz, Konstantin Andreev, Amram Mor, David Gidalevitz, Cancer-associated gangliosides as a therapeutic target for host defense peptide mimics, Langmuir, 2023, 39, 36, 12541-12549, doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01008
• Fazle R. Dayeen, Bret A. Brandner, Michael W. Martynowycz, Kamil Kucuk, Michael J Foody,  Wei Bu, Stephen B. Hall, David Gidalevitz, Effects of cholesterol on the structure and collapse of DPPC monolayers Biophysical Journal, 2022, 121, No. 18, 3533-3541, 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.007
• Konstantin Andreev, Michael W Martynowycz, Ivan Kuzmenko, Wei Bu, Stephen B. Hall, David Gidalevitz, Structural Changes in Films of Pulmonary Surfactant Induced by Surfactant Vesicles, Langmuir, 2020, 36, 45, 13439-13447, doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01813
• Michael W Martynowycz, Amy Rice,  Konstantin Andreev, Thatyane M. Nobre, Ivan Kuzmenko, Jeff Wereszczynski, David Gidalevitz, Salmonella Membrane Structural Remodeling Increases Resistance to Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37, ACS Infectious Diseases, 2019, 5, 1214-1222, doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00066
• Konstantin Andreev, Michael W Martynowycz, David Gidalevitz,  Peptoid drug discovery and optimization via surface X-ray scattering, Biopolymers, 2019, 110, 6,  e23274., doi: 10.1002/bip.23274
• Konstantin Andreev, Michael W Martynowycz, Mia L Huang, Ivan Kuzmenko, Wei Bu, Kent Kirshenbaum, David Gidalevitz, Hydrophobic interactions modulate antimicrobial peptoid selectivity towards anionic lipid membranes, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta –Biomembranes, 2018, 1860(6):1414-1423, doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.03.021

Projects

• Structure and function of natural pulmonary surfactants
• Host defense peptidomimetics targeting cancer cells 
• Antimicrobial peptides and peptidomimetics as next generation antibiotics

Experimental techniques used in my research include: Insertion assay Langmuir isotherms, epifluorescence microscopy, X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction.

Additional Info

Media Coverage

“A Breath of Fresh Air: Illinois Tech Professor Leads Discovery on Lung Function”, Illinois Institute of Technology Press Release, 07/23/24 https://www.iit.edu/news/breath-fresh-air-illinois-tech-professor-leads-discovery-lung-function

New and Notable editorial of Biophysical Journal

T. Nylander, Interfacial structure of pulmonary surfactants revisited: Cholesterol and surface pressure effects Biophysical Journal, 2022, 121, No. 18, 3305-3306 https://www.cell.com/biophysj/fulltext/S0006-3495(22)00651-8

“Body’s Defenses May Hold Key to Future Superdrugs” Illinois Institute of Technology Press Release, 06/19/19 https://www.iit.edu/news/bodys-defenses-may-hold-key-future-superdrugs

“Model Catalyst” Advance Photon Source press release, September 30, 2016 https://www1.aps.anl.gov/APS-Science-Highlight/2016/model-catalyst

“How Membrane Cholesterol Protects Cells from Toxic Warfarins” Advance Photon Source press release, May 27, 2016 https://www1.aps.anl.gov/APS-Science-Highlight/2016/how-membrane-cholesterol-protects-cells-toxic-superwarfarins

“New Membrane Research Takes Shape” IIT Magazine, Fall 2012 https://www.iit.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/fall-2012.pdf

“Driving Membrane Curvature” Advance Photon Source press release, June 14, 2012 http://www.aps.anl.gov/Science/Highlights/Content/APS_SCIENCE_20120613.php also at phys.org: http://phys.org/news/2012-06-membrane-curvature.html

“Scientists Discover that Lipids Control Proteins, Cell Membrane Curvature” medgadget.com, June 14, 2012 http://medgadget.com/2012/06/scientists-discover-that-lipids-control-proteins-cell-membrane-curvature.html

“Deciphering Cholesterol Position in Biological Membranes”, APS Science 2010, p.37, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL; ANL-10/35, ISSN 1931-5007, May 2011

“Fighting Antibiotic Resistance” IIT Magazine, Fall 2009, pp 10-11https://www.iit.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/fall-2009.pdf

“Nanowarrior David Gidalevitz is Fighting Antibiotic Resistance” Medgadget.com (September 2009)

“Researcher breaks conventions with bio” X-links, Fall 2006, p. 8

“A healthy form of destruction”, University of Chicago Magazine, August 2000.