StressMarq biosciences - alpha synuclein oligomer antibody validation

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This project will allow StressMarq, a company that specializes in making antibodies, and Dr. Christie'slaboratory at the University of Victoria to investigate a novel alpha synuclein aggregate. This aggregate hasprion-like properties, and is able - when active - to catalyze the formation of Lewy Bodies in vivo fromendogenous alpha synuclein monomers found in the host environment. Lewy Bodies are a hallmark of LewyBody dementia, often described as being a subset of Parkinson's disease (approximately 25% of Parkinson'spatients have this pathology). The project will involve "mapping" the expression of the pathology and activityof the antibody using immunohistochemistry on rat or mouse brain slices harvested from animals with varyingcontrolled neurological backgrounds, something routinely done in the Christie laboratory. The ability to workwith cell culture would show if the antibody can neutralize the Lewy Body pathology when induced in thesecells, and if successful, the same could be carried out in rats.