Israeli scientist Merbl has been honored for her groundbreaking discovery of a previously unknown aspect of the human immune system. Working in the Department of Systems Immunology at Weizmann, Merbl identified antimicrobial activity hidden within protein fragments that cells typically break down and recycle. Nature magazine described her as a 'peptide detective' and praised her for revealing this new layer of immune defense. Her research exposes an unfamiliar tier of immunity concealed in cellular waste, opening new avenues for understanding how the body fights infection.