Erratum to: Outer membrane protein C (OmpC) of Escherichia coli induces neurodegeneration in mice by acting as an amyloid

Involvement of the outer membrane protein C (OmpC) of Escherichia coli in neurodegeneration was investigated using a mouse model. OmpC formed protease-resistant fibres that exhibited the diagnostic features of an amyloid. The spectral shift in the Congo Red and the thioflavin T assays produced features similar to neurotoxic peptides. Intramuscular administration of OmpC in mice resulted in spongiform neurodegeneration of the brain through calcium-dependent apoptosis and also showed upregulation of apoptosis related genes. Immunolocalization of OmpC in brain demonstrated the direct involvement of the porin in neurodegeneration and formation of spongiform encephalopathy. We have demonstrated the ability of OmpC of E. coli to induce neurodegeneration in mice.