Protein Misfolding Disease Diagnostics

Protein misfolding diseases are a group of disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in cells, tissues or organs, such as neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.  These diseases pose significant challenges for diagnosis because they are caused by proteins that are present in every human being; The detection of the causative protein is not sufficient to make an effective diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to SENSE not only the amount of the causative protein, but also its aggregation ability, its very early aggregates (seed), and other factors associated with aggregation. Basic research on the question of why these proteins aggregate is also necessary, including the supersaturation phenomenon.

Biosensing techniques that address these issues are crucial for gaining a better understanding of disease mechanisms and for testing potential therapies. They also have the potential for biological discovery and translational applications. These advancements highlight the potential of biosensors in diagnosing protein misfolding diseases. This Collection welcomes the following topics, including but not limited to:

• Improved Detection of Misfolded Proteins
• Biosensing for Factors Controlling Aggregation
• Biosensing for On-Surface Aggregation Phenomenon
• Control of Protein Supersaturation in Aggregation
• Biosensing for Neuronal Proteostasis