Prions: health scare and biological challenge.
Although human prion diseases are rare, the incidence of 'new variant' Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom is increasing exponentially. Given that this disease is probably the result of infection with bovine prions, understanding how prions replicate--and how to counteract their action--has become a central issue for public health. What are the links between the bovine and human prion diseases, and how do prions reach and damage the central nervous system?
Aguzzi
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Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Adriano@pathol.unizh.ch
Montrasio
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Kaeser
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D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D011328:Prions / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D011328:Prions