Hong Kong University biologists identify bacterial proteins that promote neurodegenerative diseases

More and more evidences show that gut microbes play a key role in regulating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but this microbial-host interaction The molecular mechanism is unclear

Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by the accumulation of proteins in neurons

In order to solve this problem, the research team screened E.

Through genome-wide screening, Dr.

A potential treatment

In addition, the research team found that curli also promoted neurodegeneration in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington’s disease, indicating that the bacteria secreted by curli may have harmful effects on a series of neurodegenerative diseases.

" An interesting finding of this research is that a polyphenol called EGCG in green tea extract can almost completely inhibit the secretion of bacterial curli, and has an amazing effect in inhibiting neurodegeneration

Dr.

DOI

https://doi.