Treatment of scrapie pathogen 263K with tetracycline partially abolishes protease-resistant activity in vitro and reduces infectivity in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
To study the possible effect of tetracycline on protease-resistant activity in vitro and infectivity in vivo of a scrapie strain 263K.


METHODS
Scrapie pathogens were incubated with tetracycline at different concentrations for various periods of time and protease-resistant PrP signals were evaluated with proteinase K-treatment and Western blots. The preparations treated with tetracycline were intracerebrally inoculated into golden hamsters and typical TSE manifestations were noted. PrPSc in brain tissues of the infected animals was detected by PrP specific Western blot assays.


RESULTS
Protease-resistant PrP was significantly reduced in or removed from the preparations treated with tetracycline in a dose-dependant manner. Compared with the control group after incubated for 53.75 +/- 0.50 days, the preparations treated with 5 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L tetracycline prolonged the incubation time of 61.5 +/- 1.73 and 59.5 +/- 0.58 days (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of scrapie pathogen 263K with tetracycline reduces or removes its protease-resistant activity in vitro.
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
Yan-Jun
YJ
Guo
Jun
J
Han
Hai-Lan
HL
Yao
Bao-Yun
BY
Zhang
Jian-Mei
JM
Gao
Jin
J
Zhang
Xin-Li
XL
Xiao
Xiao-Fan
XF
Wang
Wei-Qin
WQ
Zhao
De-Xin
DX
Wang
Xiao-Ping
XP
Dong
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000473:pathology*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D013752:Tetracycline