Tips for a successful technology transfer in life sciences

Abstract

We postulate a pathway to Alzheimer’s disease that begins with microbial pathogens, spirochetes, that make biofilms which upregulate the innate immune system. This leads to the destruction of the tissue and the formation of Aβ by known biochemical and microbiological pathways. The spirochetes also form biofilms intracellularly; and, in the process, create Aβ which stimulates the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. This ultimately leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and dendritic disintegration. All the steps in this pathway have been shown to be present by direct pathological observation or by known microbiological/biochemical pathways. As one proof of concept, things that negatively impact AD, such as diabetes, smoking, and certain drug exposures have been shown to influence one or another component of the pathway.