Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies: the story of a pathogenic protein.
An overview is provided from the first description of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) to recent major discoveries in this research field. The TSE are a group of diseases in animal and in man caused by a unique pathogen: the prion protein. The exact nature of the etiological agent or the prion protein is thought to be a misfolded protein. Although current research has provided a wealth of data indicating that a structural isoform of the prion protein is the responsible pathogen, this hypothesis is not yet experimentally proven.
Laboratory of Neurobiology, Born Bunge Foundation, University of Antwerp (UIA), Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Bart
B
Van Everbroeck
Philippe
P
Pals
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Martin
Patrick
P
Cras
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history; D015003:Yeasts
D011328:Prions; D020033:Protein Isoforms