M03055: Assessing the Risk to Humans of Transmission of Novel TSE Isolates by Cell Free Conversion Assays
Monday 22 September 2008
Background
Various transmissible spongiform encephalopathy(TSE) isolates represent a real threat to human health. Others represent an unknown, but potential threat, which must be quantified to allow rigorous assessments of the risk of transmission to humans.
Research Approach
A cell free conversion assay has been developed that mimics species barriers, amongst other disease characteristics. The assay uses bacterial recombinant prion protein (prp) as a substrate, which is converted to a protease-resistant isoform from TSE infected animals. The researchers have already cloned and expressed human recombinant PrP and plan to use their assay to measure the potential for a range of different TSE isolates to infect humans homozygous for methionine or valine at codon 129. These isolates include BSE from sheep, chronic wasting disease (CWD) and atypical scrapie. To quantify the risk of transmission appropriate controls will be used, including cattle BSE.