Engineered bacteriophages to target amyloyd-β in the brain

Abstract

Amyloid-beta (AB) is a prime suspect to cause Alzheimer’s disease (AD). An accumulation of AB in the brain leads to its aggregation into still-soluble oligomeric and fibrillar clusters. In AD-mouse models, these AB oligomers and fibrils impair synaptic function and memory formation. However, a diagnostic tool to detect AB oligomers/fibrils selectively in the brain is currently not available. In this seminar an overview of a project, aiming at developing a cost-effective and safe bacteriophage-based tool to selectively diagnose AB oligomers and fibrils during the early stage of AD, will be presented.