| Abstract: | Herpes virus and Alzheimer's: Infection of the brain with Herpes simplex virus (HSV) could be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using PCR, Ruth Itzhaki (UMIST, Manchester, UK) and colleagues have found that the APOE4 allele is far more common in AD patients who have HSV in their brains than in people who do not have AD (whether or not they have HSV in their brains). HSV is also more common in the peripheral nervous systems of APOE4-positive people. These findings support the theory that an environmental factor (HSV) and a genetic factor (possession of the APOE4 allele) could, in combination, lead to neurodegeneration, and suggest that treatment with antivirals might delay or prevent the onset of AD in APOE4-positive individuals. Professor Itzhaki reported her findings at the Biochemical Society's Winter Meeting in Reading, UK on December 16. Cheaper chips for all?: DNA chip giants Affymetrix and Molecular Dynamics have formed a consortium to standardize their technology. This should make DNA chips, readers, software and reagents from different sources compatible and more affordable. It is hoped that this will speed up the development of new chip-based diagnostic, therapeutic and disease-management products. Copper the key to prion disease?: A report by Hans Kretzschmar and colleagues in the 18/25 December issue of Nature suggests that normal prion proteins might transport or store copper. The evidence is twofold: first, the structure of normal prion proteins suggests that they can bind copper with high affinity; and, second, knockout mice lacking a prion protein have reduced amounts of copper in membranes extracted from brain tissue. Interestingly, several proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including superoxide dismutase 1, monoamine oxidase and amyloid precursor protein, are also copper-binding proteins. Cocaine vaccine heading for trials: Immunologic has received clearance from the FDA for an Investigational New Drug licence for an anti-cocaine vaccine. Phase I trials are due to start early in 1998. The vaccine comprises a cocaine–protein conjugate; it is expected to raise an antibody response to the drug, which should `mop up' cocaine before it reaches the brain. |
