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RNA aptamers against disease isoform bovine prion protein

Reference	BS309665
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor William James
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Mr R Jackman
Institution	University of Oxford
Department	Sir William Dunn Sch of Pathology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	236,326
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	12/01/1998
End date	12/10/2001
Duration	45 months

Abstract

A significant technical barrier to many aspects of the study of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) is the absence of reagents that can distinguish the diseased from the normal isoforms of prion proteins with high affinity and specificity. Accordingly, we propose to isolate RNA aptamers against disease isoform bovine prion protein. Aptamers are RNA molecules isolated from random-sequence libraries of very high complexity by cyclical partitioning with selected ligand, reverse transcription, PCR and in vitro transcription (the SELEX TM method). The method, with which we have experience, is generally capable of generating selective ligands for selected proteins with low nanomolar affinity. Prion protein will be obtained from the Central Veterinary Laboratory Agency. Aptamers will be screened for their ability to identify plaques in diseased tissues by histology, for their ability to discriminate normal and disease isoforms of bovine PrP and disease isoforms from a variety of species. Discriminatory isoforms will be used to address questions of disease aetiology and pathogenesis and be investigated for diagnostic applications.

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	Biology of Spongiform Encephalopathies - Phase 3 (BS3) [1996-1997]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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