M03020: Assessing EDRF as a potential marker for BSE
Wednesday 25 June 2003
This research project aims to determine whether a protein found in blood called EDRF can be used to reliably diagnose preclinical cases of BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep.
Background
There is a major requirement for an ante-mortem blood-based assay capable of identifying BSE-infected cattle at the preclinical stages of the disease. The majority of current diagnostics require post-mortem material or material obtained by invasive procedures such as CNS or tonsil biopsy. The only assay performed on blood requires extensive protein purification procedures and highly specialised equipment making automated high throughput difficult. This study will investigate whether a protein found in blood called EDRF can be used to reliably diagnose preclinical cases of BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep.
Research Approach
It has been proven that downregulation of EDRF is common to scrapie models in mice, BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep. This project will work on 3 parallel areas:
1. Develop expression assay for bovine EDRF. Use assay to compare EDRF expression in healthy and BSE infected cattle throughout development of disease. Establish ‘normal’ range of expression levels in ‘over thirty month’ animals.
2. Produce polyclonal antibody to bovine EDRF. Develop Western blot-based assay and compare protein levels in healthy and infected cattle.
3. Isolate clones for ovine EDRF and generate polyclonal antibody.