The role of monoculture isolates from the human microbiome on aging and stress responses
The Czyz research group concentrates on two research areas – the development of non-traditional approaches that target bacteria and deciphering the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Recent research suggests that bacteria contribute to the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases; however, it remains elusive which bacteria play important roles and how microbes affect physiological processes that lead to the pathogenesis of these debilitating diseases. The Czyz Lab has characterized over 240 unique bacterial strains from the human microbiome for their contribution to toxic protein aggregation, which is also the hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. The funding from AFAR will help Dr. Czyz understand the underlying mechanisms associated with detrimental bacteria and by which beneficial bacteria provide protection against toxic protein aggregation. The outcomes of this AFAR-funded project have the potential to reveal microbiome-targeted approaches that can positively influence lifespan and healthspan.
