Prion infectivity in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease rectum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Disease-related prion protein (PrP(Sc)) is readily detectable in lymphoreticular tissues in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), but not in other forms of human prion disease. This distinctive pathogenesis, with the unknown population prevalence of asymptomatic vCJD infection, has led to significant concerns that secondary transmission of vCJD prions will occur through a wide range of surgical procedures. To date PrP(Sc):prion infectivity ratios have not been determined in vCJD, and it is unknown whether vCJD prions are similar to experimental rodent prions, where PrP(Sc) concentration typically reflects infectious prion titre.

Aim

To investigate prion infectivity in vCJD tissue containing barely detectable levels of PrP(Sc).

Methods

Transgenic mice ex

SUBMITTER: Wadsworth JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1856674 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature