Detection of Prion Infectivity in Fat Tissues of Scrapie-Infected Mice

PLoS Pathogens

Michael B. A. Oldstone¹  Bruce Chesebro²  Kimberly Meade-White²  Richard Race²  Brent Race² 

[1] Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, LaJolla, California, United States of America;Laboratory of Persistent Virus Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America

关键词: Fats;    Animal prion diseases;    Mouse models;    Scrapie;    Skeletal muscles;    Immunoblotting;    Immunohistochemistry techniques;    Tongue;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1000232

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Distribution of prion infectivity in organs and tissues is important in understanding prion disease pathogenesis and designing strategies to prevent prion infection in animals and humans. Transmission of prion disease from cattle to humans resulted in banning human consumption of ruminant nervous system and certain other tissues. In the present study, we surveyed tissue distribution of prion infectivity in mice with prion disease. We show for the first time detection of infectivity in white and brown fat. Since high amounts of ruminant fat are consumed by humans and also incorporated into animal feed, fat-containing tissues may pose a previously unappreciated hazard for spread of prion infection.

【 授权许可】

CC BY