Breaking New Ground: Immune System Discovery Offers Potential Solution to Alzheimer’s

A groundbreaking study has shed new light on the relationship between the immune system and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered that an immune molecule called STING plays a crucial role in driving the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

The study found that blocking STING activity in lab mice protected them from mental decline, suggesting a promising new target for developing treatments. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for understanding and treating not only Alzheimer’s but also other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and dementia.

“The findings demonstrate that the DNA damage that naturally accumulates during aging triggers STING-mediated brain inflammation and neuronal damage in Alzheimer’s disease,” said researcher John Lukens, PhD. “These results help to explain why aging is associated with increased Alzheimer’s risk and uncover a novel pathway to target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.”

The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, involved a team of researchers from UVA’s Department of Neuroscience and Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG Center). They found that removing STING dampened microglial activation around amyloid plaques, protected nearby neurons from damage, and improved memory function in Alzheimer’s model mice.

The discovery of STING as a key player in the development of neurodegenerative diseases opens new doors for research into potential treatments. While much more work is needed to translate these findings into effective therapies, this breakthrough has sparked hope among researchers and patients alike.

“Our hope is that this work moves us close to finding safer and more effective ways to protect the aging brain,” said Lukens. “Shedding light on how STING contributes to that damage may help us target similar molecules and ultimately develop effective disease-modifying treatments.”

The article tells the story of Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology student at West Virginia University, who made the groundbreaking discovery of a long-sought-after fungus that produces effects similar to LSD. The fungus, named Periglandula clandestina, was found growing in morning glory plants and has been shown to produce ergot alkaloids, which have potential therapeutic applications.

Hazel’s discovery was a result of her work with Professor Daniel Panaccione in the lab, where she was studying how morning glories disperse protective chemicals through their roots. The researchers prepared a DNA sample and sent it away for genome sequencing, funded by a student enhancement grant obtained by Hazel. The sequence confirmed the discovery of a new species, which is now deposited in a gene bank with her name on it.

The discovery of Periglandula clandestina has opened up potential research avenues, particularly in the area of pharmaceuticals. Ergot alkaloids have been used to treat various conditions, but they can also be poisonous and have unwanted side effects. By studying these compounds, researchers may be able to find ways to bypass their negative effects and create new medications.

Hazel’s achievement is all the more remarkable given her status as a student. She has demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to her work, which has led to this significant breakthrough. The discovery of Periglandula clandestina serves as a testament to the importance of students recognizing opportunities and seizing them with skill and determination.

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Discovery of Elusive Fungus Yields New Opportunities in Pharmaceutical Research

A West Virginia University microbiology student has made a groundbreaking discovery that could lead to new pharmaceuticals. Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology major and Goldwater Scholar, found the elusive fungus Periglandula clandestina growing in morning glory plants. The fungus produces effects similar to LSD, which is used to treat conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction.

Hazel made the discovery while working in the lab with Professor Daniel Panaccione. She was studying how morning glories disperse protective chemicals through their roots when she noticed a tiny little seed coat with fuzz-like appearance. The researchers prepared a DNA sample and sent it away for genome sequencing, funded by a student enhancement grant obtained by Hazel.

The sequence confirmed the discovery of a new species, which is now deposited in a gene bank with her name on it. This achievement is all the more remarkable given Hazel’s status as a student. She has demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to her work, which has led to this significant breakthrough.

The discovery of Periglandula clandestina has opened up potential research avenues, particularly in the area of pharmaceuticals. Ergot alkaloids have been used to treat various conditions, but they can also be poisonous and have unwanted side effects. By studying these compounds, researchers may be able to find ways to bypass their negative effects and create new medications.

Hazel is now studying the most effective ways to culture the slow-growing fungus and is interested in whether other morning glory species may also contain ergot alkaloids from a fungal symbiote that has yet to be described. Her achievement serves as a testament to the importance of students recognizing opportunities and seizing them with skill and determination.

The researchers dubbed the fungus “Periglandula clandestina” for its ability to have eluded investigators for decades. Hazel is proud of her work at WVU, saying “I’m lucky to have stumbled into this opportunity.” People have been looking for this fungus for years, and one day, I look in the right place, and there it is.”

Hazel’s achievement has significant implications for pharmaceutical research and could lead to new treatments for various conditions. Her discovery serves as a reminder of the importance of dedication, hard work, and innovative thinking in scientific research.

The severe heart disease of old age, characterized by aortic valve narrowing (aortic stenosis) combined with cardiac amyloidosis, has long been associated with a high risk of death. For years, treatment has focused on replacing the narrowed heart valve, while often leaving the amyloid deposits in the heart muscle untreated. A groundbreaking international study led by MedUni Vienna and University College London has now demonstrated that combining heart valve replacement with specific drug therapy can significantly prolong life for patients with this condition.

Led by Christian Nitsche (Department of Medicine II, Clinical Division of Cardiology, MedUni Vienna) and Thomas Treibel (Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, University College London), the research team analyzed data from 226 patients with aortic stenosis and concomitant cardiac amyloidosis from ten countries. Their study revealed that both aortic valve replacement and treatment with the drug tafamidis for amyloidosis were associated with a lower risk of death.

Most impressively, the survival benefit was highest in patients who received both forms of treatment. “Our results show that patients with both conditions who received valve replacement and specific amyloidosis therapy had similar long-term survival rates to people with aortic stenosis without amyloidosis,” emphasized study leader Christian Nitsche.

The targeted therapy can slow the progression of amyloidosis, while valve replacement treats the mechanical stress caused by the narrowed heart valve. The research suggests that around ten percent of patients with aortic stenosis also have amyloidosis, but this is often not diagnosed in everyday clinical practice.

“Our findings also suggest that patients with severe aortic valve stenosis should be screened for amyloidosis so that we can offer them targeted life-prolonging treatment options,” Christian Nitsche emphasized.

This study offers new hope for patients with severe heart disease and highlights the importance of combining therapy to improve outcomes. By targeting both the mechanical stress caused by aortic stenosis and the debilitating effects of cardiac amyloidosis, doctors can now provide their patients with more effective life-prolonging treatment options.