title: Progress on low susceptibility mechanisms of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
abstract: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also known as prion diseases, are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases detected in a wide range of mammalian species. The "protein-only" hypothesis of TSE suggests that prions are transmissible particles devoid of nucleic acid and the primary pathogenic event is thought to be the conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into the disease-associated isoform (PrP(Sc)). According to susceptibility to TSEs, animals can be classified into susceptible species and low susceptibility species. In this review we focus on several species with low susceptibility to TSEs: dogs, rabbits, horses and buffaloes. We summarize recent studies into the characteristics of low susceptibility regarding protein structure, and biochemical and genetic properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China. zhaohui@ynu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D011328:Prions
keywords: Buffalo; Dog; Horse; Low susceptibility; PRNP; Rabbit; SPRN; Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy