My research team has recently discovered that the protein lysozyme may have a neuroprotective effect in Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by the formation of protein aggregates (plaques) in the brain that are mostly composed of the peptide Abeta. In our studies, we identified elevated levels of lysozyme in cerebrospinal fluid from AD patients and that the protein is localized in plaques in AD brains. We also saw that lysozyme can prevent aggregation and formation of toxic Abeta forms. Lysozyme was also shown to have a neuroprotective effect and the ability to counteract the disease process in transgenic Drosophila flies that can develop AD. In this project, we will map the mechanisms by which lysozyme can protect neurons from toxic Abeta peptides and block the formation of toxic Abeta forms. This knowledge will be crucial to understand the role of lysozyme in AD and determine the potential for lysozyme to be a therapeutic target for the disease.