Kara Molesworth

Targeting Astrocytic Stat3 Reveals Context-Dependent Modulation of Prion Disease

This study investigates the role of astrocytic Stat3 in prion disease, finding it modulates astrocyte reactivity but has limited impact on disease progression, with context-dependent effects.

Protective Role of Galectin-3 in Prion Disease Through Regulation of Microglial PrPSc Uptake

This study shows that Galectin-3 promotes microglial uptake of PrPSc, slowing prion disease progression by enhancing phagocytic sequestration of prions.

Knockout of P2Y12 receptor facilitates microglia-neuron body-to-body interactions and accelerates prion disease

This study shows that P2Y12 receptor knockout increases microglia-neuron body-to-body interactions and accelerates prion disease progression in mice.

Engulfment of viable neurons by reactive microglia in prion diseases

The paper shows that in prion diseases, microglia engulf viable neurons during late preclinical stages, independent of the CD11b pathway, and this occurs across multiple brain regions and sCJD subtypes.

Multiple steps of prion strain adaptation to a new host

This study investigates prion strain adaptation to a new host using synthetic prions, finding that adaptation involves multiple stages including changes in PrPSc properties and microglia interaction.

Reactive astrocytes associated with prion disease impair the blood brain barrier

This study shows that reactive astrocytes in prion disease impair BBB integrity through proinflammatory factors like IL-6, leading to early BBB breakdown.

Region-specific homeostatic identity of astrocytes is essential for defining their reactive phenotypes following pathological insults

The paper investigates how region-specific homeostatic identities of astrocytes influence their reactive phenotypes across different pathological insults.

Alzheimer's disease-associated β-Amyloid does not protect against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 brain infection

This study shows that Alzheimer's disease-associated β-Amyloid does not protect against HSV-1 brain infection in 5XFAD mice.

Loss of region-specific glial homeostatic signature in prion diseases

The paper examines how prion diseases alter region-specific glial homeostatic signatures, finding that these signatures are replaced by a region-independent neuroinflammation signature during disease progression.