Simone Hornemann

Computationally engineered cyclic peptides reduce prion levels in vitro

The paper designs cyclic peptides to inhibit prion conversion in vitro, showing one peptide significantly reduces PrPSc levels by stabilizing PrPc structure.

Control of Prion Uptake by Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling

The paper identifies BMP signaling as a regulator of prion uptake by screening for genetic modifiers in human cells and shows that modulating BMP components affects prion internalization.

A screen of alkaline and oxidative formulations for their inactivation efficacy of metal surface adsorbed prions using a steel-bead seed amplification assay

This study screens alkaline and oxidative formulations for prion inactivation using a novel steel-bead seed amplification assay, identifying effective detergents for medical instrument decontamination.

An Arrayed Genome-Wide Perturbation Screen Identifies the Ribonucleoprotein hnRNP K As Rate-Limiting for Prion Propagation

The paper identifies Hnrnpk as a key regulator of prion propagation through a genome-wide RNAi screen using the QUIPPER assay, showing PSA's ability to reduce prion levels and toxicity in multiple models.

A conformational switch controlling the toxicity of the prion protein

This study identifies an H-latch conformational switch in PrPC that drives prion toxicity and shows that disrupting this switch can protect against prion-related neurodegeneration.

Robust and Versatile Arrayed Libraries for Human Genome-Wide CRISPR Activation, Deletion and Silencing

The paper constructs genome-wide CRISPR libraries for gene ablation, activation, and silencing with high efficacy and reports novel gene regulators and modifiers.

Ligands binding to the cellular prion protein induce its protective proteolytic release with therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative proteinopathies

The paper shows that ligands binding to PrPC induce its proteolytic release, which has neuroprotective effects, and identifies mechanisms and exceptions in this process.

The ASC inflammasome adapter controls the extent of peripheral protein aggregate deposition in inflammation-associated amyloidosis

This paper shows that ASC controls AA amyloidosis by interacting with SAA and that anti-ASC antibodies reduce amyloid loads in mice.

LAG3 is not expressed in human and murine neurons and does not modulate α-synucleinopathies

This study shows LAG3 is not expressed in human and mouse neurons and does not worsen α-synuclein pathology in vitro or in vivo.

Novel regulators of PrPC biosynthesis revealed by genome-wide RNA interference

This paper identifies 54 novel regulators of PrPC expression through a genome-wide RNA interference screen, with 9 confirmed by CRISPR interference, revealing potential therapeutic targets for prion diseases.

Protective anti-prion antibodies in human immunoglobulin repertoires

The paper identifies protective anti-prion antibodies in human immunoglobulin repertoires and finds they are present in healthy individuals without associated pathologies.

Prion infection, transmission and cytopathology modelled in a low-biohazard human cell line

The paper describes a human cell line, hovS, that can be infected with sheep-derived prions and exhibits prion-related cytopathology, offering a safer alternative to human prion studies.

Genome-wide transcriptomics identifies an early preclinical signature of prion infection

The paper identifies early molecular changes in prion-infected mice, suggesting glial pathophysiology as a key driver and potential targets for intervention.

Transmission of prion infectivity from blood by peptoid-conjugated beads

This study demonstrates that peptoid-conjugated beads can capture and transmit prion infectivity from blood, validating a sensitive assay for prion detection.

Unaltered prion disease in mice lacking developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del 1)

This study investigates the role of Del-1 in prion disease progression and finds that its absence does not affect prion pathogenesis, clearance, or neuroinflammation in mice.

A bispecific immunotweezer prevents soluble PrP oligomers and abolishes prion toxicity

This paper introduces a bispecific antibody that targets both the globular domain and flexible tail of PrP, preventing prion toxicity and oligomer formation.