David Vanderwall studies how proteins function and change in different diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease and infections caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. For Alzheimer’s, he examines the protein alterations in both human and mouse models to understand how these changes affect the disease's progression and to discover potential treatments. He also investigates how viruses like Epstein-Barr evade the immune system, which can lead to various health problems. His research incorporates sophisticated techniques to measure these proteins accurately, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies and better drug development.
Key findings
In Alzheimer’s research, mouse models reflected about 30% of protein changes seen in humans, rising to 42% with additional genetic factors.
The introduction of new software tools like JUMPptm identified nearly 35,000 unique protein changes related to Alzheimer's, highlighting significant biological processes affecting the disease.
A new method integrating imaging and machine learning improved drug tissue biodistribution analysis, providing precise details crucial for developing effective treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Vanderwall study Alzheimer's disease?
Yes, he conducts research on protein alterations in Alzheimer's disease to better understand its mechanisms and improve treatment options.
What treatments has Dr. Vanderwall researched?
He has explored potential treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and viruses like Epstein-Barr, identifying key protein interactions that could be targeted.
Is Dr. Vanderwall's work relevant to patients with viral infections?
Absolutely, his studies on the Epstein-Barr virus help identify new targets for treatments related to various health conditions linked to the virus.
Can his research improve drug development?
Yes, his work on protein analysis techniques and drug biodistribution can significantly enhance how new treatments are developed and assessed.
Publications in plain English
Human and mouse proteomics reveals the shared pathways in Alzheimer's disease and delayed protein turnover in the amyloidome.
2025
Nature communications
Yarbro JM, Han X, Dasgupta A, Yang K, Liu D +27 more
Plain English This research studied how proteins behave in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and compared them to what is found in human brains affected by the disease. The researchers found that two mouse models reflect about 30% of the protein changes seen in humans, and this rises to 42% when additional genetic factors are included. This is important because it helps to uncover the underlying mechanisms of AD and highlights the role of protein breakdown in the disease, which could lead to new treatment strategies.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and healthcare providers working toward better understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Balakrishnan R, Berg EL, Butler CC, Clark AM, Denker SP +8 more
Plain English Researchers created a standard template for labeling data from biological tests used in drug discovery, which makes it easier to share and compare information. By using this template, scientists can better analyze and predict results from the growing amount of test data, which could help speed up the development of new treatments. This is important because improving how we organize data in medical research can lead to faster and more effective drug discovery.
Who this helps: This helps drug discovery researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
Human-mouse proteomics reveals the shared pathways in Alzheimer's disease and delayed protein turnover in the amyloidome.
2024
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Yarbro JM, Han X, Dasgupta A, Yang K, Liu D +26 more
Plain English This study looked at proteins in the brains of mice and humans to better understand Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that commonly used mouse models replicate about 30% of the protein changes seen in humans, but when adding more genetic factors, this similarity rose to 42%. They discovered that protein breakdown is slowed down in the presence of amyloid plaques, which are harmful to brain function, highlighting important areas for future research.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with Alzheimer's disease and their doctors by providing insights for better treatment strategies.
Plain English This study developed a new software called JUMPptm to help identify chemical changes to proteins (known as post-translational modifications) in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers used this tool to analyze brain samples and discovered nearly 35,000 unique protein changes, with 482 of them showing significant differences as Alzheimer's disease progressed. This finding, including a notable decrease in the acetylation of mitochondrial proteins, is important because it provides insights into the underlying biological processes of Alzheimer's, which may lead to better understanding and treatment options for the disease.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on Alzheimer's disease.
An Epstein-Barr virus protein interaction map reveals NLRP3 inflammasome evasion via MAVS UFMylation.
2023
Molecular cell
Yiu SPT, Zerbe C, Vanderwall D, Huttlin EL, Weekes MP +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) interacts with human cells, specifically B cells, and found that one of the virus's proteins, BILF1, tricks the host's immune response. By modifying a protein called MAVS, BILF1 prevents the immune system from attacking the virus, which allows the virus to replicate more easily. This is important because EBV is linked to many serious health issues, including infectious mononucleosis and various cancers.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with EBV-related diseases by identifying new treatment targets.
29-Plex tandem mass tag mass spectrometry enabling accurate quantification by interference correction.
2022
Proteomics
Sun H, Poudel S, Vanderwall D, Lee DG, Li Y +1 more
Plain English This study looked at a new method called 29-plex tandem mass tag (TMT) mass spectrometry, which helps scientists measure proteins more accurately. The researchers found that their new method improved the accuracy of protein measurements, restoring the correct ratios from distorted values — for example, fixing the ratios from 1:1.7:4.2 back to the expected 1:3:10. This improvement is important because it allows for better understanding and analysis of proteins, which can lead to advancements in medical research and treatment.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and clinicians working with protein analysis in various medical applications.
Proteomic landscape of Alzheimer's Disease: novel insights into pathogenesis and biomarker discovery.
2021
Molecular neurodegeneration
Bai B, Vanderwall D, Li Y, Wang X, Poudel S +5 more
Plain English This research paper looks at proteins in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) to better understand how the illness develops and to find potential new markers for diagnosis and treatment. The study found nearly 2,700 proteins that are expressed differently in the brains affected by AD, highlighting the involvement of various types of brain cells in the disease. This matters because identifying these proteins could lead to better models for studying Alzheimer's and more effective treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients, doctors, and researchers working on Alzheimer's disease.
JUMPn: A Streamlined Application for Protein Co-Expression Clustering and Network Analysis in Proteomics.
2021
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Vanderwall D, Suresh P, Fu Y, Cho JH, Shaw TI +4 more
Plain English The study introduced a new software called JUMPn, which helps scientists analyze complex protein data more easily. The software groups proteins that behave similarly across different samples and maps their interactions, making it simpler to understand biological functions. This is important because it improves how researchers can analyze vast amounts of protein data, leading to better insights into health and disease.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and scientists looking to understand protein behavior in medical studies.
Quantifying drug tissue biodistribution by integrating high content screening with deep-learning analysis.
2020
Scientific reports
Li Z, Xiao Y, Peng J, Locke D, Holmes D +11 more
Plain English This study focused on improving the way scientists measure how well drugs reach specific organs in animal models. The researchers created a new method that combines advanced imaging techniques with machine learning, allowing them to see and measure how drugs bind to tissues clearly. They found this approach gives precise details about drug behavior in the body, which is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Who this helps: This helps drug developers and researchers working on new therapies.
Functional antagonism of IL-1alpha induced gene expression profiles define the cAMP/PKA pathway as a unique regulator of IL-1alpha signaling networks.
2009
Journal of receptor and signal transduction research
Murray DL, Johnson EN, Wang P, Gauthier J, Bing N +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how a protein called IL-1alpha triggers inflammation and scarring in lung cells and tested various compounds that could block this action. The researchers found that certain compounds, specifically ones that increase cAMP levels, effectively changed the way IL-1alpha affected gene activity, while traditional inhibitors did not have the same effect. This discovery is important because it suggests a new way to control inflammation in lungs, which could lead to better treatments for lung diseases.
Who this helps: Patients with lung diseases, especially those experiencing inflammation and scarring.
Synthesis and SAR of potent EGFR/erbB2 dual inhibitors.
2004
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
Zhang YM, Cockerill S, Guntrip SB, Rusnak D, Smith K +3 more
Plain English This research focused on creating and testing new drugs that can block two important cancer-related proteins called EGFR and erbB2. The most effective compounds reduced the activity of these proteins at very low levels, with the best results showing an IC50 value—meaning the concentration needed to inhibit half of the activity—below 0.10 micromolar. This is significant because it shows potential for these compounds to stop the growth of certain cancer cells that have high levels of these proteins, which are often hard to treat.
Who this helps: Patients with cancers that over-express EGFR and erbB2.
Plain English This study focused on understanding the detailed structure of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 4B2B, which helps break down important cellular messengers that regulate various bodily functions, such as muscle movement and nerve signaling. Researchers discovered the precise shape of the enzyme at a very high resolution, revealing key details about how it works and how it can be targeted for drug development. This information is crucial for designing new medications that can effectively interact with this enzyme and potentially improve treatments for various conditions.
Who this helps: Patients needing new treatments for conditions related to cyclic nucleotide regulation.
Plain English This research focuses on how embryo transfer in horses has evolved over the past 20 years and highlights both the challenges and progress in this area. Key findings show that embryo recovery rates depend on various factors like the timing of recovery and the quality of the donor, with successful embryo transfers often occurring when embryos are taken 7 or 8 days after ovulation. Notably, embryos can now be shipped for transfer without significantly affecting fertility, but freezing horse embryos remains difficult, as only small embryos can be frozen successfully at this time.
Who this helps: This research benefits veterinarians, horse breeders, and horse owners looking to improve reproductive success in horses.
Active-site tyrosyl residues are targets in the irreversible inhibition of a class Mu glutathione transferase by 2-(S-glutathionyl)-3,5,6-trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone.
1994
The Journal of biological chemistry
Ploemen JH, Johnson WW, Jespersen S, Vanderwall D, van Ommen B +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how a specific chemical (GSTCBQ) stops a particular enzyme in rats (glutathione S-transferase) from working. The researchers found that GSTCBQ targets three key parts of the enzyme, particularly two tyrosine residues (Tyr-6 and Tyr-115) and one cysteine (Cys-114). Even though only one molecule of GSTCBQ can disable the enzyme almost completely (leaving less than 5% of its activity), it interacts with all three targets, which helps understand how to better design treatments for diseases where this enzyme plays a role.
Who this helps: This research benefits scientists developing drugs to target similar enzymes in human diseases.