Study of the Intracellular Protein Tau and its Relationship with Kunjin Virus and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Search for this publication on Google Scholar
Lotz, S. (2022). Study of the Intracellular Protein Tau and its Relationship with Kunjin Virus and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
Download PDF

Analytics

18 views ◎
6 downloads ⇓


Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, comprise a family of disorders characterized by progressive loss of nervous system function. Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized to be associated with many neurodegenerative diseases but whether it is a cause or consequence of the disease process is unclear. Of growing interest is the role of microbial infections in inciting degenerative neuroinflammatory responses and genetic factors that may regulate those responses. Microbial infections cause inflammation within the central nervous system through activation of brain-resident immune cells and infiltration of peripheral immune cells. These responses are necessary to protect the brain from lethal infections but may also induce neuropathological changes that lead to neurodegeneration. The thesis research to follow explores the elaborate relationship between the neuroinvasive Kunjin virus and the intracellular protein Tau. Elucidating these mechanisms is critical for developing targeted therapeutic approaches that prevent the onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Details
Author

Lotz, Sarah

Title

Study of the Intracellular Protein Tau and its Relationship with Kunjin Virus and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Physical Description

1 online resource (99 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, comprise a family of disorders characterized by progressive loss of nervous system function. Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized to be associated with many neurodegenerative diseases but whether it is a cause or consequence of the disease process is unclear. Of growing interest is the role of microbial infections in inciting degenerative neuroinflammatory responses and genetic factors that may regulate those responses. Microbial infections cause inflammation within the central nervous system through activation of brain-resident immune cells and infiltration of peripheral immune cells. These responses are necessary to protect the brain from lethal infections but may also induce neuropathological changes that lead to neurodegeneration. The thesis research to follow explores the elaborate relationship between the neuroinvasive Kunjin virus and the intracellular protein Tau. Elucidating these mechanisms is critical for developing targeted therapeutic approaches that prevent the onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Neurosciences
Immunology
Virology

Degree

M.S.

Keywords

Alzheimer's Disease
Microbial Peptide
Neurotropic Infection
Tau Protein

Subject Area

Biology

Advisor(s)

Funk, Kristen

Committee Members

Marriott, Ian
Furr, Samantha

Degree Note

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

Rights Statement

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Lotz_uncc_0694N_13125

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2945