Assessing the risk to humans of transmission of novel TSE isolates by cell free conversion assays
Funded by FSA
Associated scientists: Dr Louise Kirby, Mr Will Brockie and Dr Andrew C. Gill
In recent years, various new TSE diseases have been discovered and the risk to humans of potential exposure to novel TSE pathogens is not known. Our cell free conversion assays effectively mimics the barriers associated with cross species disease transmission and can be used to provide quantitative estimates of risk. The aim of this project is to perform cell free conversion assays (CFCA) to assess the susceptibilities of humans to (i) BSE in sheep (ii) chronic wasting disease in cervids, such as deer (iii) atypical scrapie in sheep (iv) atypical forms of BSE in cattle. These assays will be performed to allow a quantitative assessment of the likelihood of transmission of disease and will use as benchmark controls (i) natural and/or experimental classical scrapie in sheep (ii) classical BSE in cattle (iii) nvCJD in humans.
The CFCAs will be performed by use of the different TSE isolates detailed above as seeds and with recombinant human PrP of either methionine129 or valine129 genotype as substrates. The same conversion assays will also be performed with substrates comprising a 1:1 mixture of met129 and val129 allelotype proteins. In order to detect converted products differentially, the inclusion of different labels is required. For this purpose, different fluorophores will be incorporated into the different proteins permitting quantitative differential detection by fluorescent scanning.
More details: please contact Andrew C. Gill