Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32290858›Full record

ArticleTheoretical biology & medical modelling2020

An agent-based model to investigate microbial initiation of Alzheimer's via the olfactory system.

Shalini Sundar, Carly Battistoni, Ryan McNulty, Fernando Morales, Jonathan Gorky, Henry Foley, Prasad Dhurjati

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Theoretical biology & medical modelling, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024
    Review
  8. Review
  9. [Relationship between Oral Microbiota and Alzheimer's Disease].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2022
    Review
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. The Use of Antimicrobial and Antiviral Drugs in Alzheimer's Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Shalini SundarDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Carly BattistoniDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Ryan McNultyDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Fernando MoralesDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Jonathan GorkyDepartment of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Henry FoleyNew York Institute of Technology, New York, NY, USA.
Prasad DhurjatiDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA. dhurjati@udel.edu.
University of Delaware · USNew York Institute of Technology · USThomas Jefferson University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease. A novel agent-based modelling framework was developed in NetLogo 3D to provide fundamental insights into the potential mechanisms by which a microbe (eg. Chlamydia pneumoniae) may play a role in late-onset AD. The objective of our initial model is to simulate one possible spatial and temporal pathway of bacterial propagation via the olfactory system, which may then lead to AD symptoms. The model maps the bacteria infecting cells from the nasal cavity and the olfactory epithelium, through the olfactory bulb and into the olfactory cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain.

resultsBased on the set of biological rules, simulated randomized infection by the microbe led to the formation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary (NF) tangles as well as caused immune responses. Our initial simulations demonstrated that breathing in C. pneumoniae can result in infection propagation and significant buildup of Aβ plaque and NF tangles in the olfactory cortex and hippocampus. Our model also indicated how mucosal and neural immunity can play a significant role in the pathway considered. Lower immunities, correlated with elderly individuals, had quicker and more Aβ plaque and NF tangle formation counts. In contrast, higher immunities, correlated with younger individuals, demonstrated little to no such formation.

conclusionThe modelling framework provides an organized visual representation of how AD progression may occur via the olfactory system to better understand disease pathogenesis. The model confirms current conclusions in available research but can be easily adjusted to match future evidence and be used by researchers for their own individual purposes. The goal of our initial model is to ultimately guide further hypothesis refinement and experimental testing to better understand the dynamic system interactions present in the etiology and pathogenesis of AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseChlamydophila pneumoniaeNeurofibrillary TanglesOlfactory BulbSystems AnalysisAmyloid beta-PeptidesCerebral CortexHumansPlaque, AmyloidAmyloid beta-PeptidesAgent-based modelAlzheimer’s diseaseBiological modelling frameworkMicrobiomeNetLogo3-DOlfactory system

Identifiers

PMID32290858
PMCPMC7158140
OpenAlexW3016003469

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.