Prof. Dr. med. Dr. sc. h.c. Adriano Aguzzi
Area of Research
Description of Research Interest
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi has devoted the past 23 years to studying the immunological and molecular basis of prion pathogenesis. Combining transgenetics with molecular and immunological techniques, he has aimed to identify cells and molecules involved in prion neuroinvasion.
His discovery of pervasive colonization of the immune system by prions has convinced most of the world's governments to undertake efforts to limit the exposure of humans to prions derived from farm animals.
Furthermore, Prof. Aguzzi’s discovery that chronic inflammation controls the organ tropism of prion diseases has crucially contributed to clarifying how scrapie transmits horizontally within sheep flocks.
The realization that prion excretion results from coincident inflammation and prion infection is paving the way to the eradication of prion diseases from ruminants.
Prof. Aguzzi’s discovery that the removal of microglia accelerates prion disease has a fundamental impact on therapeutic strategies against aggregation proteinopathies such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Prof. Aguzzi’s most recent work, published in Science Translational Medicine in 2015, has established the feasibility of structure-based drug design against prions. We predict that the latter work will find rapid and successful translation into clinical applications.
Special Expertise
Prions
Shareable Platforms, Services, Equipment & Infrastructure
PCR Genotyping Service
Member of Collaborative/interdisciplinary Research Consortia
KFSP Small RNAs
KFSP Human Hemato-Lymphatic Diseases (HHLD)
