A recent study demonstrates that amyloid-β (Aβ) can function as an antimicrobial peptide, and additional data show that bacteria and yeast can seed Aβ deposition into amyloid. These data suggest a complex interplay between the normal function of Aβ, its accumulation in the brain, and host immune defence.
Subject terms:
Refers to Kumar, D. K. et al. Amyloid-β peptide protects against microbial infection in mouse and worm models of Alzheimer’s disease. Sci. Transl. Med. 8, 340ra372 (2016)