Alzheimer’s Disease Neutralized by Newly Developed Antibodies

Alzheimer’s Disease Neutralized by Newly Developed Antibodies

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found a new way to develop antibodies that neutralize the harmful protein particles that causes Alzheimer's disease.

The discovered process is a structure-based design of conformation- and sequence-specific antibodies against amyloid β used as a tool to understand complex ailment pathology and develop new antibody-based drugs for future use.

According to scientists, antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to combat infection and disease. It is made up of a large Y-shaped protein topped with small peptide loops which bind to harmful invaders in the body, such as a viruses or bacteria. These antibodies send cells to destroy the invader.

At present, scientists have discovered new method for designing antibodies to fight ailments, specifically Alzheimer’s disease. Peter Tessier who led the research is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, according to him the team is exploiting the same kind of protein interactions that cause disease in the brain to and mediate antibodies to Alzheimer’s disease protein.

Further, the new antibodies handle only the harmful proteins that are related to the disease. With their new study, there is a possibility to prevent or reverse cellular toxicity connected to Alzheimer's disease.

Posted by George Daniels on Monday December 12 2011, 1:29 AM EDT. Ref: Peter Tessier et al. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0