Biomarkers and Therapeutical Targets for Prion Diseases

This book explores the intricate landscape of prion diseases, exploring the various methodologies for detecting human and animal prions, emphasizing both current techniques and those under development, as well as emerging techniques and methodologies for biomarker detection in prion diseases, paving the way for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The rational development of theranostic small molecules for prion diseases is also included, shedding light on potential treatment. It examines the utility of prion disease diagnostic markers in pre-symptomatic disease stages, offering insights into early detection strategies. Pharmacological approaches in prion diseases are explored, along with the potential of Lab-on-Chip platforms for monitoring prion and "prion-like" amyloid assembly and behavior. The role of reactive microglia and astrocytes as therapeutic targets is investigated, highlighting novel avenues for intervention. Furthermore, the book addresses biological fluid biomarkers in human prion diseases, paying special attention to biosafety considerations. Human genetic evidence is analyzed to identify new targets in prion diseases, discussing both opportunities and challenges. The utilization of RT-QuIC analysis of peripheral tissues and PMCA applications in prion disease diagnosis is examined, along with the extension of seed amplification assays for the clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders beyond prion pathologies. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive overview of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in prion diseases, encapsulating both current knowledge and emerging trends in the field. Chapter [Human Genetic Evidence for New Targets in Prion Diseases -Opportunities and Challenges] is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.