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Dieriks Lab

Untangling α-synuclein strains

in synucleinopathies

Our Work

We study the complex interactions of α-synuclein aggregation in the disease process of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies. Our goal is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these neurodegenerative disorders, reduce disease progression and promote healthy aging.

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Mission Statement

Untangling α-synuclein strains

To pioneer and communicate innovative research that makes a difference to people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and Multiple System Atrophy.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

 

Muhammad Ali

Latest Publications

Journal Publications

  1. Stevenson T. J. & Dieriks, B. V. (2023) Wrapping up the role of pericytes in Parkinson’s disease. Neural Regen Res 18(11): 2395-2396. doi:10.4103/1673‐5374.371362 

  2. Kreesan R. & Dieriks, B. V. (2022) Multiple system atrophy: α-Synuclein strains at the neuron-oligodendrocyte crossroad. Mol Neurodegeneration 17 (77), 1-18 (2022). doi: 10.1186/s13024-022-00579-z

  3. Dieriks, B. V., Highet B., Alik A., Bellande T., ..., Faull, R. L. Melki R., Curtis, M. A., Dragunow M. (2022) Human pericytes can degrade diverse alpha-synuclein aggregates. Plos One Vol.17(11), p.e0277658 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0277658

  4. Stevenson T. J., Johnson R. H., …, Melki R., Dieriks, B. V., Curtis, M. A, Dragunow M. (2022) Pericytes take up and degrade α-synuclein but succumb to apoptosis under cellular stress. Sci Rep. 2022;12(17314). doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20261-0

  5. Highet B.#, Dieriks, B. V.# Murray, H. C., Faull, R. L. M., Curtis, M. A.  (2020) Huntingtin aggregates in the olfactory bulb in Huntington's disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 12(261) doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00261. (# equally contributed first authors)

  6. Jansson, D., Dieriks, B. V., Rustenhoven, J., Leon, C. D., Scotter, E., Aalderink, M., …, Dragunow, M. (2021). Recycling old drugs : cardiac glycosides as therapeutics to target barrier inflammation of the vasculature , meninges and choroid plexus. Commun Biol.1–17. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01787-x.

  7.  Stevenson T. J., Murray, H. C., Turner, C., Faull, R. L. M., Dieriks, B. V.* & Curtis, M. A.* (2020). α-synuclein inclusions are abundant in non-neuronal cells in the anterior olfactory nucleus of the Parkinson's disease olfactory bulb. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63412-x. (* equally contributed co-last authors)

  8. Dieriks, B. V., Dean, J. M., Aronica, E., Waldvogel, H. J., Faull, R. L. M., & Curtis, M. A. (2018). Differential fatty acid-binding protein expression in persistent radial glia in the human and Sheep subventricular zone. Developmental neuroscience. 40(2):145-161. doi: 10.1159/000487633.

  9. Dieriks, B. V., Park, T. I. -H., Fourie, C., Faull, R. L., Dragunow, M., & Curtis, M. A. (2017). α-synuclein transfer through tunneling nanotubes occurs in SH-SY5Y cells and primary brain pericytes from Parkinson's disease patients. Scientific Reports, 7, 42984. doi: 10.1038/srep42984.

Popular Science Articles on Parkinson's disease

Medium and Newsroom

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ideasroom/profile/DrVictorDieriks; https://medium.com/@v.dieriks,

1.     Parkinson’s disease only affects young people. Think again! Aug 2022

https://bit.ly/3Sz6CnH

 

2.    Grim effects of long Covid amplify the need for vaccine May 2021

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ideasroom/grim-effects-of-long-covid-amplify-need-for-vaccine

3.    The link between Covid and Parkinson’s November 2020

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ideasroom/the-link-between-covid-and-parkinsons

 

4.    The Four Horsemen, a striking metaphor for neurodegenerative brain diseases Sept 2020

https://medium.com/@v.dieriks/the-four-horsemen-a-striking-metaphor-for-neurodegenerative-brain-diseases-a4b475844c2f

Is the solution for Parkinson’s right in front of our nose? June 2020

https://medium.com/@v.dieriks/is-the-solution-for-parkinsons-right-in-front-of-our-nose-ff559fc8176b

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