Transmission of atypical bovine prions to mice transgenic for human prion protein

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1898-901. doi: 10.3201/eid1412.080941.

Abstract

To assess risk for cattle-to-human transmission of prions that cause uncommon forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), we inoculated mice expressing human PrP Met129 with field isolates. Unlike classical BSE agent, L-type prions appeared to propagate in these mice with no obvious transmission barrier. H-type prions failed to infect the mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PrPSc Proteins / metabolism
  • Prions / classification
  • Prions / genetics
  • Prions / metabolism*
  • Transgenes*

Substances

  • PrPSc Proteins
  • Prions