Investigating neurodegenerative protein aggregation by ultra-sensitive antibody detection

许多疾病，包括神经退行性疾病，都依赖于蛋白质的自组装。这些蛋白质种类太过异质和短暂，无法用标准的生物物理方法进行研究。Erin将提供一个超灵敏的检测平台，该平台结合了核酸和蛋白质探针，例如适体和抗体，以及定量聚合酶链反应。她将利用这项技术研究与阿尔茨海默病有关的蛋白质自组装结构及其小分子药物的可药性。

Many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, depend on protein self-assemblies. These protein species are too heterogenous and transient to be studied with standard biophysical approaches. Erin will deliver an ultrasensitive detection platform that combines nucleic acid and protein probes, e.g., aptamers and antibodies, with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. She will use this technology to study the structure of protein self-assemblies linked to Alzheimer's disease and their druggability by small molecules.