Abstract: Compositions and kits for diagnosing and prognosing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a human patient include a binding agent such as a monoclonal antibody for a biomarker conjugated to a detectable moiety such as a fluorophore, wherein the biomarker is chosen from CD163, CD91, CD59, MerTK and other phagocytosis-related molecules. Further compositions and kits employ panels of fluorophore-conjugated monoclonal antibodies for biomarkers including scavenger receptors. Methods for determining the relative expression of biomarkers, diagnosing AD, and determining the efficacy of AD therapeutic candidates such as phagocytosis-promoting agents and scavenger receptor agonists also appear.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the promoter of the gene for the human precursor of the Alzheimer's Disease A4 amyloid protein (PAD gene).Another object of the present invention is the use of this promoter in a method of establishing a screening model for the Alzheimer's Disease. Thus the present invention is also related to a vector useful in the transfection of cells and the cells and animals transfected therewith.