Affiliations: [a] Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain | [b] Department of Neuropathology and Tissue Bank, Unidad de Investigación Proyecto Alzheimer, Fundación CIEN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Luis Carrasco, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 1 497 84 50;lcarrasco@cbm.csic.es
Abstract: The identification of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease is important for patient management and to assess the effectiveness of clinical intervention. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers constitute a powerful tool for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. We have analyzed the presence of fungal proteins and DNA in CSF from AD patients. Our findings reveal that fungal proteins can be detected in CSF with different anti-fungal antibodies using a slot-blot assay. Additionally, amplification of fungal DNA by PCR followed by sequencing distinguished several fungal species. The possibility that these fungal macromolecules could represent AD biomarkers is discussed.
