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Prion adsorption to stainless steel is promoted by nickel and molybdenum

Katarina M Luhr1, Peter Löw1, Albert Taraboulos2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Retzius väg 8, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

The Journal of General Virology
|July 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Stainless steel with nickel and molybdenum binds infectious prion proteins (PrPSc) more effectively. This finding is crucial for manufacturing surgical instruments and preventing prion disease transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Prions are misfolded proteins (PrPSc) causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
  • Iatrogenic prion transmission can occur via contaminated surgical instruments.
  • Stainless steel is commonly used in surgical and abattoir tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of nickel and molybdenum in stainless steel on prion binding and infectivity.
  • To explore nickel and molybdenum as potential agents for prion concentration.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of PrPSc binding to stainless steel with and without nickel/molybdenum.
  • Cell culture experiments to assess prion infectivity transmission.
  • Adsorption and extraction experiments using nickel and molybdenum powders.

Main Results:

  • Stainless steel containing nickel and molybdenum exhibited enhanced PrPSc binding and infectivity transmission.
  • Nickel and molybdenum alone effectively adsorbed PrPSc.
  • Nickel powder facilitated PrPSc extraction from dilute solutions.

Conclusions:

  • Nickel and molybdenum significantly increase the affinity of stainless steel for PrPSc.
  • These elements enhance prion infectivity transmission via contaminated materials.
  • Consideration of nickel and molybdenum content is vital for surgical instrument and abattoir tool design to mitigate prion risks.

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