Parkinson’s disease a neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 6 million people globally is typically diagnosed only after motor symptoms emerge by which point significant neurological damage has already occurred. This delay highlights a major unmet need: early detection which could enable timely intervention with existing therapies to slow disease progression.

As part of my ExpoBiome project supported by an ERC Consolidator Grant we discovered that certain small proteins produced by the gut microbiome can induce the aggregation of α-synuclein the key molecular marker of Parkinson’s explains Prof. Paul Wilmes head of the Systems Ecology group at LCSB. With the new ERC Proof of Concept grant we aim to evaluate these microbiome-derived proteins as early biomarkers. Measuring their presence in stool or blood samples could provide a non-invasive and efficient method for identifying at-risk individuals and detecting the disease in its early stages.

Building on the promising findings from the ExpoBiome project which revealed the clinical potential of small microbiome-derived proteins Prof. Wilmes and his team developed and patented an innovative method to pinpoint the most promising candidates. Combining advanced omics technologies with cutting-edge artificial intelligence this analytical pipeline serves as a crucial first step in identifying proteins best suited for predicting disease risk and aiding in diagnosis.

With support from the new ERC grant the research team will enhance their current method and apply it to analyze both fecal and blood samples from three groups: individuals with Parkinson’s disease patients with REM sleep behavior disorder a known early indicator of the disease and healthy controls. Detecting the selected microbiome-derived proteins in at-risk individuals and patients will mark an important step toward developing a non-invasive early screening tool for Parkinson’s. The grant will also enable the team to evaluate the method’s technical feasibility ensure its reproducibility and explore its commercial potential through a comprehensive market analysis.

The project will bring together international collaborators to support both clinical research and the development of a go-to-market strategy. Existing partnerships with Prof. Brit Mollenhauer at the Paracelsus-Klinik in Kassel and the University Medical Center Göttingen as well as Prof. Ami Bhatt’s team at Stanford University will play a key role in sample collection and clinical translation. Additional support will come from Dr. Robert Hettich at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Catalyze who will assist with analytical measurements and business development. Interest in the project has also been expressed by SeNostic GmbH a German company specializing in diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases and NLC Health Ventures an Amsterdam-based early-stage investment fund focused on turning scientific innovation into real-world healthcare solutions.

He adds Our goal is for this project to result in the first microbiome linked blood-based diagnostic and prognostic test for a major chronic disease. Such a breakthrough could transform the early detection and management of Parkinson’s enabling timely treatment and improving patient outcomes.

Source: https://www.uni.lu/lcsb-en/news/using-molecules-produced-by-microbes-to-detect-parkinsons-disease-early/