title: Cerebrospinal Fluid from Alzheimer's Disease Patients Contains Fungal Proteins and DNA.
abstract: The identification of biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease is important for patient management and to assess the effectiveness of clinical intervention. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers constitute a powerful tool for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. We have analyzed the presence of fungal proteins and DNA in CSF from AD patients. Our findings reveal that fungal proteins can be detected in CSF with different anti-fungal antibodies using a slot-blot assay. Additionally, amplification of fungal DNA by PCR followed by sequencing distinguished several fungal species. The possibility that these fungal macromolecules could represent AD biomarkers is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology and Tissue Bank, Unidad de Investigación Proyecto Alzheimer, Fundación CIEN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rábano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology and Tissue Bank, Unidad de Investigación Proyecto Alzheimer, Fundación CIEN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodal
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrasco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker; fungal DNA; fungal infection; neurodegenerative disease; protein biomarker