Prion News and Research

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Researchers contribute to key step in finding cure for prion-folding diseases in humans

The work of University of Alberta researchers and their teams has contributed to an important next step in finding a cure for deadly prion-folding diseases in humans and animals.

1 Aug 2013

Scientists take important step toward pharmacologic development of treatment for fatal brain disorders

A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified a mechanism that can prevent the normal prion protein from changing its molecular shape into the abnormal form responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. This finding, published in the July 18 issue of Cell Reports, offers new hope in the battle against a foe that until now has always proved fatal.

19 Jul 2013

Key to treating neurodegenerative prion diseases may lie in ribosome, shows research

New research results from Uppsala University, Sweden, show that the key to treating neurodegenerative prion diseases such as mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease may lie in the ribosome, the protein synthesis machinery of the cell. The results were recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

2 Jul 2013

BioMed Central launches new journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications

Open access publisher BioMed Central is proud to announce the launch of Acta Neuropathologica Communications (ANC). ANC will publish work on pathology and mechanisms of neurological disease using structural, molecular and cellular techniques.

8 May 2013

Research findings could provide a way to treat onset, progression of Parkinson's disease

The earliest signs of Parkinson's disease can be deceptively mild. The first thing that movie star Michael J. Fox noticed was twitching of the little finger of his left hand.

23 Apr 2013

TSRI scientists identify new drugs for human prion disease

Human diseases caused by misfolded proteins known as prions are some of most rare yet terrifying on the planet—incurable with disturbing symptoms that include dementia, personality shifts, hallucinations and coordination problems.

4 Apr 2013

Iron imbalance caused by prion proteins leads to cell death in CJD, researchers find

An iron imbalance caused by prion proteins collecting in the brain is a likely cause of cell death in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found.

14 Mar 2013

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

A multi-institution group of researchers has found new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Researchers supported by The ALS Association have discovered how mutations in new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genes cause not only ALS but also other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered mutations in two genes that lead to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and related degenerative diseases.

4 Mar 2013

Targeting CSF1R with selective inhibitors could help Alzheimer's

Scientists from the University of Southampton have identified the molecular system that contributes to the harmful inflammatory reaction in the brain during neurodegenerative diseases.

22 Feb 2013

Prions may be crucial in brain development during childhood

A molecule that is not only dangerous, but can help the brain grow. A few years ago it was found that certain proteins, the prions, when defective are dangerous, as they are involved in neurodegenerative syndromes such as the Creutzfeldt-Jakob and the Alzheimer diseases.

16 Feb 2013

Prion filtration tested for red blood cell transfusions

Red blood cell prion filtration does not increase the risk for alloimmunization or transfusion reactions, suggest results from the largest safety study to date.

9 Jan 2013

JPND invites proposals from researchers to understand the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases

The EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) is inviting calls for proposals from research teams across Europe to increase understanding of the factors that put people at risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer's and also to evaluate health and social care strategies for people living with these debilitating illnesses.

10 Dec 2012

Neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in initiating prion disease

In a recent publication, researchers of the Computational Biology group at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine showed that neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in initiating prion disease.

30 Nov 2012

Prion protein helps the brain to absorb zinc

Scientists from the University of Leeds have found that the protein called prion helps our brains to absorb zinc, which is believed to be crucial to our ability to learn and the wellbeing of our memory.

17 Oct 2012

Autologous skin grafts heal chronic foot ulcers

Scientists have successfully treated chronic diabetic foot ulcers using skin grafts grown from individual patient cell samples.

13 Sep 2012

Scientists devise new fluorescent probes to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases

Sticky plaques of proteins called amyloids mark several different, though related degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeld-Jacobs. The symptoms of these disorders overlap and methods to diagnose and monitor them are not very advanced.

16 Aug 2012

Reducing copper in the body delays onset of prion disease

Many of us are familiar with prion disease from its most startling and unusual incarnations-the outbreaks of "mad cow" disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) that created a crisis in the global beef industry. Or the strange story of Kuru, a fatal illness affecting a tribe in Papua New Guinea known for its cannibalism. Both are forms of prion disease, caused by the abnormal folding of a protein and resulting in progressive neurodegeneration and death.

13 Aug 2012

Researchers identify new class of compounds that inhibit spread of prions

A team of University of Alberta researchers has identified a new class of compounds that inhibit the spread of prions, misfolded proteins in the brain that trigger lethal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals.

24 Jul 2012

Prion News and Research

Researchers contribute to key step in finding cure for prion-folding diseases in humans

Scientists take important step toward pharmacologic development of treatment for fatal brain disorders

Key to treating neurodegenerative prion diseases may lie in ribosome, shows research

BioMed Central launches new journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications

Research findings could provide a way to treat onset, progression of Parkinson's disease

TSRI scientists identify new drugs for human prion disease

Iron imbalance caused by prion proteins leads to cell death in CJD, researchers find

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

Targeting CSF1R with selective inhibitors could help Alzheimer's

Prions may be crucial in brain development during childhood

Prion filtration tested for red blood cell transfusions

JPND invites proposals from researchers to understand the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases

Neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in initiating prion disease

Prion protein helps the brain to absorb zinc

Autologous skin grafts heal chronic foot ulcers

Scientists devise new fluorescent probes to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases

Reducing copper in the body delays onset of prion disease

Researchers identify new class of compounds that inhibit spread of prions

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