This repository is under review for potential modification in compliance with Administration directives.

A group of scientists working in a lab

This repository is under review for potential modification in compliance with Administration directives.

This network was funded under NIH RFA AG 21-012, Resource Networks for Protein
Polymorphisms in Alzheimer’s Disease and its Related Dementias. The overall goals of this
FOA are to take advantage of recent advancements in various biophysical and immunological
technologies to establish centralized Resource Networks to systematically characterize various
AD/ADRD-related oligomers and seeds. The resource facilities will provide the standardized
analyses and reagents for all known and unknown AD/ADRD-related oligomers, seeds, and
fibrils for both basic and clinical research. The following major tasks need to be accomplished in
order to share standardized oligomers and seeds to the basic and clinical AD/ADRD research
communities.

Mission:

Our mission is to serve as a centralized hub for researchers in the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) community, offering access to protocols, protein aggregates, and detection tools essential for studying disease-associated protein assemblies.

The Amyloid Polymorphisms Network Program(APNP) is guided by the following core objectives:

  • Investigate and characterize both established and novel oligomers, seeds, and fibrils derived from clinical and experimental sources.
  • Provide comprehensive analyses of these assemblies, including their sizes, structural consistency, shapes, binding with imaging probes, and immunological responses.
  • Identify and optimize conditions for the preservation, propagation, storage, and dissemination of these aggregates.
  • Facilitate the distribution of characterized oligomers, seeds, and fibrils to the research community.
  • Create and validate chemical and antibody-based detection tools, accompanied by standardized protocols for their use and replication.

Key Research Areas

Pathological Core

Select brain tissue for isolation and purification of replicating amyloid seeds. Characterize the specificity of monoclonal antibodies and fluorescent probes on human and transgenic mouse tissue

Identification/Authentication Core

Development of monoclonal antibodies and fluorescent probes for the specific identification and of amyloid polymorphs and protocols for the authentication, validation and specific identification of amyloid polymoprhs in vitro and in vivo

Structural Biological Core

Characterization of the morphology, MPL by TEM and structures of brain-derived, in vitro preparations and brain-seeded preparations of amyloid oligomers and fibrils by cryoEM.

Bio-Chemistry Core

Optimization of in vitro protocols for oligomers and fibrils. Isolation, purification of replicating amyloid seeds. Preparation and purification of amyloid monomer for use in replication. Optimization of protocols for replicating amyloid seeds.