Award details

To define molecular aspects of strain identity and strain mutation

Reference	BBS/E/D/20251967
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Andrew Gill
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Edinburgh
Department	The Roslin Institute
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	2,874,669
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2012
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	59 months

Abstract

Scrapie has been endemic in the UK sheep flock for over 200 years and multiple strains exist in the field. They can be cloned and passaged in suitable hosts in the laboratory, but characterising the differences between these strains and the way in which they are encoded is a major challenge. Likewise, it is exceptionally challenging to determine how novel TSE isolates emerge – are they always present at low levels but get selected for by changes in human practices? Do pre-existing strains of TSE disease mutate to result in modified strains that propagate in new niches such as particular Prnp genotypes? It is also possible that novel strains of TSE disease have always been present but that increased surveillance is only now beginning to pick up these novel cases. We have been working at the forefront of this challenge for many years and are well positioned to continue to define the interactions between TSE strains, their selection and altered pathogenesis in animals. Through extensive in vivo studies of large and small animals we have shown that some TSE agents can be readily modified/mutated on passage through new hosts whilst others appear more stable in a variety of hosts. Targeting of pathology is determined by both strain characteristics and host genetics but the detailed mechanisms causing this are not yet established. In this theme, we aim to determine how the characteristics of TSE strains are encoded, how they are manifest and how they can interconvert in suitable hosts leading to novel isolates displaying different peripheral pathogenesis in animals and with potentially novel host ranges.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Animal Health, Microbiology, TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies)
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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