Research
Research in our laboratory is directed at understanding the role of the microbiome in protein conformational diseases and aging. Within the complex community of microorganisms inhabiting the gut lies a potential key to understanding diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. Our research focuses on unraveling how alterations in the gut microbiome composition contribute to the misfolding and aggregation of proteins associated with these conditions. We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome influences the pathogenesis of protein conformational diseases and aging. By studying C. elegans, we seek to uncover the intricate connections between microbial communities, protein aggregation, and aging within the host.
On the other side, our laboratory is dedicated to identify molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of protein aggregation within the host by specific antibiotics and natural compounds. Antibiotics, traditionally employed to combat bacterial infections, have been increasingly recognized for their potential impact in the host beyond their antimicrobial effects. We aim to elucidate how antibiotics may exert direct or indirect influences on protein conformation and aggregation, thereby affecting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, natural compounds, harbor immense therapeutic potential, with emerging evidence suggesting their ability to modulate protein aggregation pathways. By dissecting the interactions between these bioactive compounds and cellular signaling networks, we strive to uncover novel therapeutic avenues for mitigating protein misfolding and aggregation in the context of neurodegenerative disorders and aging.
Research Projects:
Analyze the effect of gentamicin in C. elegans proteostasis.
The gut microbiota composition has shown to have an important role in the pathogenesis of protein conformational diseases. Therefore, we think that the consumption of antibiotics could also be involved in the development of these diseases. Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic that increases polyglutamine aggregation in C. elegans models. In the lab, we aim to identify the possible neurotoxic effects and the molecular mechanisms by which this antibiotic can disrupt protein homeostasis in the host.
Examine the effects of alkannin in protein conformational diseases and lifespan.
Alkannin, a natural compound extracted from the Alkanna tinctoria plant, has demonstarted to reduce amyloid protein aggregation in C. elegans, offering potential implications for neurodegenerative diseases and aging. However, the precise mechanisms through which alkannin accomplishes this remain unknown. By determining these mechanisms, we seek to provide a better insight of alkannin´s molecular effects in protein aggregation, and expose its potential therapeutic properties to reduce and prevent protein aggregation in protein conformational diseases and aging.
Concentration of the gut microbiome in relation to neurodegenerative diseases.
Many previous studies have identified different taxa of the gut microbiome that either increase or decrease in concentration when identified in patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. This project will analyze the effects of a few different bacterial strains on protein aggregation, both separately and in concert with one another. The effects of a few different short chain fatty acids on protein aggregation will also be studied as well as the effects of beta lactam antibiotics.
On the other side, our laboratory is dedicated to identify molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of protein aggregation within the host by specific antibiotics and natural compounds. Antibiotics, traditionally employed to combat bacterial infections, have been increasingly recognized for their potential impact in the host beyond their antimicrobial effects. We aim to elucidate how antibiotics may exert direct or indirect influences on protein conformation and aggregation, thereby affecting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, natural compounds, harbor immense therapeutic potential, with emerging evidence suggesting their ability to modulate protein aggregation pathways. By dissecting the interactions between these bioactive compounds and cellular signaling networks, we strive to uncover novel therapeutic avenues for mitigating protein misfolding and aggregation in the context of neurodegenerative disorders and aging.
Research Projects:
Analyze the effect of gentamicin in C. elegans proteostasis.
The gut microbiota composition has shown to have an important role in the pathogenesis of protein conformational diseases. Therefore, we think that the consumption of antibiotics could also be involved in the development of these diseases. Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic that increases polyglutamine aggregation in C. elegans models. In the lab, we aim to identify the possible neurotoxic effects and the molecular mechanisms by which this antibiotic can disrupt protein homeostasis in the host.
Examine the effects of alkannin in protein conformational diseases and lifespan.
Alkannin, a natural compound extracted from the Alkanna tinctoria plant, has demonstarted to reduce amyloid protein aggregation in C. elegans, offering potential implications for neurodegenerative diseases and aging. However, the precise mechanisms through which alkannin accomplishes this remain unknown. By determining these mechanisms, we seek to provide a better insight of alkannin´s molecular effects in protein aggregation, and expose its potential therapeutic properties to reduce and prevent protein aggregation in protein conformational diseases and aging.
Concentration of the gut microbiome in relation to neurodegenerative diseases.
Many previous studies have identified different taxa of the gut microbiome that either increase or decrease in concentration when identified in patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. This project will analyze the effects of a few different bacterial strains on protein aggregation, both separately and in concert with one another. The effects of a few different short chain fatty acids on protein aggregation will also be studied as well as the effects of beta lactam antibiotics.