title: Prion adsorption to stainless steel is promoted by nickel and molybdenum.
abstract: Prions are infectious agents resulting from the conversion of a normal cellular protein, PrP(C), to a misfolded species, PrP(Sc). Iatrogenic transmission of prions is known from surgical procedures involving stainless steel materials. Here, it was shown that stainless steel containing nickel and molybdenum binds PrP(Sc) more efficiently and transmits infection to cells in culture to a higher degree than if these elements are not present. Furthermore, both nickel and molybdenum alone adsorbed PrP(Sc), and nickel powder could be used to extract PrP(Sc) from dilute solutions, thus providing a simple approach to concentration of PrP(Sc). The fact that nickel and molybdenum in steel alloys increased the binding affinity, and bound infectivity, of PrP(Sc) is an important issue to consider in the manufacture of surgical instruments and abattoir tools.
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Retzius väg 8, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Katarina M
authors: KM
authors: Luhr
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Retzius väg 8, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Löw
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Taraboulos
authors: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Bergman
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Retzius väg 8, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Krister
authors: K
authors: Kristensson
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D013502:General Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013193:Stainless Steel
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel; D008982:Molybdenum