Professor: Takeshi Tabira, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor: Shinei Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Assistant: Yukako Hasegawa, A.D. |
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- We have developed an oral Abeta vaccine using recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (AAV) carrying Abeta 1-43 cDNA, which was found highly effective and safe in an Alzheimer mouse model and old monkeys. We will strive for accuracy and success in the clinical trial. We will also establish vaccine using Sendai virus vector (SEV).
- Some elderly patients may not respond well to such active immunization due to declined immune functions. For such patients, we will establish antibody therapy by selecting more efficient antibodies. We have established TAPIR antibody, a high affinity mouse monoclonal antibody against tissue amyloid plaques, which had much higher affinity to Abeta 42 than Abeta 40. This will be humanized and tested for humans.
- Herbal medicines may be gentle and tender for the frailty elderly. We have found that some herbal medicines are effective in reducing Alzheimer pathology in mice. We will establish alternative treatment for Alzheimerfs disease using herbal medicines.
- Amyloid vaccine was not beneficial clinically in patients who had started to decline, even though amyloid plaques were cleared well (Holmes et al., 2008). Therefore, early administration of vaccine seems to be necessary. To this end, establishment of early diagnostic measures is mandatory. Recently amyloid imaging is becoming available for early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. We will establish measures for early diagnosis with known chemicals in collaboration, and test our own chemicals as well if these had any superior feature.
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