Transmission of prions

102Citations
Citations of this article
134Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The "protein only" hypothesis states that the infectious agent causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a conformational isomer of PrP, a host protein predominantly expressed in brain, and is strongly supported by many lines of evidence. Prion diseases are so far unique among conformational diseases in that they are transmissible, not only experimentally but also by natural routes, mainly by ingestion. A striking feature of prions is their extraordinary resistance to conventional sterilization procedures, and their capacity to bind to surfaces of metal and plastic without losing infectivity. This property, first observed in a clinical setting, is now being investigated in experimental settings, both in animals and in cell culture.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Weissmann, C., Enari, M., Klöhn, P. C., Rossi, D., & Flechsig, E. (2002). Transmission of prions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 99(SUPPL. 4), 16378–16383. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.172403799

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free