Understanding prions in bacteria and their connection to brain diseases
Prions in the bacterial domain of life
This work explores how certain proteins in bacteria behave like prions, which are linked to serious brain conditions in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090191 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Prions are unusual proteins that can misfold and cause other proteins to misfold too, leading to severe brain diseases like mad cow disease in animals and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. While prions were first found in mammals and yeast, this project looks at similar proteins in bacteria. By understanding how these bacterial prions form and spread, we hope to learn more about the fundamental processes that cause neurodegenerative diseases in people. This research aims to uncover how these protein changes affect bacterial cells and what controls their formation and spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future clinical applications could benefit individuals with neurodegenerative conditions linked to protein misfolding.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical participation will not find a benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new fundamental insights into how prion-like proteins cause disease, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat neurodegenerative disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Initial work has identified bacterial prion proteins and developed models to study them, suggesting a promising foundation for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hochschild, Ann — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Hochschild, Ann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.