Transmission of the BSE agent to mice in the absence of detectable abnormal prion protein.
The agent responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) is thought to be a malfolded, protease-resistant version (PrPres) of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP). The interspecies transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to mice was studied. Although all of the mice injected with homogenate from BSE-infected cattle brain exhibited neurological symptoms and neuronal death, more than 55 percent had no detectable PrPres. During serial passage, PrPres appeared after the agent became adapted to the new host. Thus, PrPres may be involved in species adaptation, but a further unidentified agent may actually transmit BSE.
Lasmézas
C I
CI
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Service de Neurovirologie, DSV/DRM/SSA, B.P. 6, 60-68 avenue du General Leclerc, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France. CORINNE.LASMEZAS@cea.fr
Deslys
J P
JP
Robain
O
O
Jaegly
A
A
Beringue
V
V
Peyrin
J M
JM
Fournier
J G
JG
Hauw
J J
JJ
Rossier
J
J
Dormont
D
D
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010641:Phenotype; D011328:Prions / Q000032:analysis*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012692:Serial Passage; D013997:Time Factors; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011328:Prions; D010450:Endopeptidases