biostudies-literatureCortez LMAlberta Prion Research Institute in collaboration with the Alberta Livestock and Meat AgencyCJD FoundationGenome CanadaAlberta Synergies in Alzheimer’s and Related Disorderse1009703https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8270404biostudies-literatureUnknown17(6)Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders that affect mammals, including humans. The central molecular event is the conversion of cellular prion glycoprotein, PrPC, into a plethora of assemblies, PrPSc, associated with disease. Distinct phenotypes of disease led to the concept of prion strains, which are associated with distinct PrPSc structures. However, the degree to which intra- and inter-strain PrPSc heterogeneity contributes to disease pathogenesis remains unclear. Addressing this question requires the precise isolation and characterization of all PrPSc subpopulations from the prion-infected brains. Until now, this has been challenging. We used asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) to isolate all PrPSc subpopulations from brains of hamsters infected with thPLoS pathogensAsymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation of prions reveals a strain-specific continuum of quaternary structures with protease resistance developing at a hydrodynamic radius of 15 nm.PMC8270404Exploration IV, 201600016/2016A003RWille HMcKenzie DSim VLCortez LMSriraman AWang YNemani SKDuque Velasquez CfalseAsymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation of prions reveals a strain-specific continuum of quaternary structures with protease resistance developing at a hydrodynamic radius of 15 nm.Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders that affect mammals, including humans. The central molecular event is the conversion of cellular prion glycoprotein, PrPC, into a plethora of assemblies, PrPSc, associated with disease. Distinct phenotypes of disease led to the concept of prion strains, which are associated with distinct PrPSc structures. However, the degree to which intra- and inter-strain PrPSc heterogeneity contributes to disease pathogenesis remains unclear. Addressing this question requires the precise isolation and characterization of all PrPSc subpopulations from the prion-infected brains. Until now, this has been challenging. We used asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) to isolate all PrPSc subpopulations from brains of hamsters infected with th2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jun2026-07-16T08:40:47.582Z2026-07-09T10:50:16.013ZS-EPMC82704043418170210.1371/journal.ppat.1009703