title: Characteristics of 263K scrapie agent in multiple hamster species.
abstract: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases are known to cross species barriers, but the pathologic and biochemical changes that occur during transmission are not well understood. To better understand these changes, we infected 6 hamster species with 263K hamster scrapie strain and, after each of 3 successive passages in the new species, analyzed abnormal proteinase K (PK)-resistant prion protein (PrPres) glycoform ratios, PrPres PK sensitivity, incubation periods, and lesion profiles. Unique 263K molecular and biochemical profiles evolved in each of the infected hamster species. Characteristics of 263K in the new hamster species seemed to correlate best with host factors rather than agent strain. Furthermore, 2 polymorphic regions of the prion protein amino acid sequence correlated with profile differences in these TSE-infected hamster species.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA. kmeade-white@niaid.nih.gov
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Meade-White
authors.forename: Kent D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Barbian
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Race
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Favara
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taubner
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porcella
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Race
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019286:Endopeptidase K / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012692:Serial Passage; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D011328:Prions; D019286:Endopeptidase K