Award details

Scrapie strain typing and PrP analysis in cell culture

Reference	BBS/E/I/00000599
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Christopher Birkett
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	13,460
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	30/04/1999
Duration	25 months

Abstract

Evaluation of whether scrapie strain-specific characteristics persist in cells in culture is of importance in determining the nature of the transmissible agent. Given the complex cytoarchitecture of the brain it is not possible simply to identify infected cells from those which might be pathologically affected in trans, nor is it possible even to distinguish which cells are producing PrP-Sc from those which might merely be transporting or accumulating it. Cell culture should therefore provide a valuable, far simpler model in which to study the molecular determinants that define strain characteristics. PrP-Sc production in the persistently scrapie-infected cell line SMB is sensitive to scrapie-prophylactic compounds. Using pentosan sulphate we have cured PrP-Sc production and scrapie infectivity in a sub-line of SMB, designated SMB-PS. It has been possible to re-infect these cells with specific scrapie strains. Evaluation of the strain-specific characteristics, incubation period, lesion-profile and PrP-Sc glycoform- profile, of the original and re-infected SMB cells shows that more than one strain of scrapie can replicate in the same cell type and moreover that the strain-determinants are stable with time. These findings indicate host-independence of scrapie strain characteristics and therefore have implications for various theories of cell-type specific prion replication.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
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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