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Parkinson’s-related protein also protects against infections
June 14, 2017
Scientists have known for more than a century that Parkinson’s disease is associated with strange clumps of protein in the brain. Twenty years ago, researchers found that these clumps are mainly made of a protein called alpha-synuclein, but the normal role of this protein has been the subject of much debate.
New research led by Drs.
Michael Schlossmacher
and Julianna Tomlinson shows that alpha-synuclein helps protect the body from infections. They found that mice that lacked alpha-synuclein were more likely to succumb to both viral and bacterial infections.
They also developed a powerful new technique that allows them to visualize the interaction between various microbes and Parkinson’s-linked proteins (including alpha-synuclein) together in the nose and brain. This could help to test the intriguing theory that Parkinson’s can be triggered by an infection that starts in the nose.
See
Translational Neurosciences
and
AlzForum
.
Authors:
Tomlinson JJ, Shutinoski B, Dong L, Meng F, Elleithy D, Lengacher NA, Nguyen AP, Cron GO, Jiang Q, Roberson ED, Nussbaum RL, Majbour NK, El-Agnaf OM, Bennett SA, Lagace DC, Woulfe JM, Sad S, Brown EG, Schlossmacher MG
Funders:
Weston Brain Institute, Parkinson Canada, Parkinson Research Consortium, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Research Chairs Program, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (Sam and Uttra Bhargava Family), Department of Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca