Protein aggregation often leads to the formation of fibrils or amyloid. This is associated with several human diseases – the most well-known are Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In the hereditary disease Corneal Dystrophy, the protein TGFBIp forms aggregates in the cornea that prevent light from entering the eye and eventually lead to loss of vision. However, amyloid is not all bad. Amyloid is structurally very stable and robust against degradation. Hence, it is not surprising that Nature utilizes amyloid. A good example is the protein FapC, which is produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa known to attack the lungs of Cystic Fibrosis patients.

During his PhD studies, Marcel Stenvang has focused on the correlation between hereditary mutations in TGFBIp and the tendency to form protein aggregates alongside potential treatments to inhibit aggregation. Especially one molecule, isolated from green tea, has proven to be very efficient. Marcel Stenvang has also investigated the effect of this molecule on Pseudomonas aeruginosa FapC amyloid and has studied how amyloid plays an important role in the thermophile archaeabacterium Methanosaeta thermophila.

Marcel Stenvang’s research has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanism behind Corneal Dystrophy and the discovery of a potential and cheap treatment of the rare disease. Furthermore, the research has expanded our knowledge of the importance and prevalence of functional amyloids.

The PhD degree was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

This resumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Wednesday 21 October 2015 at 13.15.
Place: Building 1593, room 012, the Lecture Theatre, iNANO House, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of dissertation: Small Is Beautiful: Combating Bacterial and Corneal Protein Aggregation
Contact information: Marcel Stenvang, e-mail: mres06@inano.au.dk, phone: +45 6166 6090
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Per Hammarström, IFM-Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Professor Niels H. H. Heegaard, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark
Associate Professor Rikke Louise Meyer (Chair), iNANO and Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Daniel Otzen, iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor
Professor Jan Enghild, iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, Building 1521, Room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.