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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay
11:41

Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay

Published on: March 10, 2015

Naturally prion resistant mammals: a utopia?

Natalia Fernández-Borges1, Francesca Chianini, Hasier Eraña

  • 1CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain.

Prion
|September 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Rabbits are not resistant to prion diseases. Normal rabbit prion protein (PrP (C) ) can misfold into abnormal prion protein (PrP (Sc) ), challenging assumptions of species resistance.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay
11:41

Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay

Published on: March 10, 2015

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Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species

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Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification of Prions
10:12

Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification of Prions

Published on: November 7, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders.
  • Species-specific resistance to prion diseases has been assumed based on lack of natural cases.
  • This resistance was thought to stem from the inability of normal prion protein (PrP (C) ) to misfold.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prion disease resistance of rabbits.
  • To determine if normal rabbit prion protein (PrP (C) ) can be induced to misfold into abnormal prion protein (PrP (Sc) ).
  • To re-evaluate the concept of species resistance in prion diseases.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted.
  • Experimental challenges were performed on rabbits.
  • The misfolding of rabbit PrP (C) to PrP (Sc) was assessed.

Main Results:

  • Normal rabbit PrP (C) can be misfolded into PrP (Sc).
  • This misfolded PrP (Sc) successfully transmitted prion disease to leporids.
  • The study refutes the assumption of rabbit prion disease resistance.

Conclusions:

  • The concept of prion disease resistance based solely on the absence of natural cases is flawed.
  • Underestimation of species barriers contributed to the BSE epidemic.
  • A re-evaluation of prion disease risk in other species is warranted using modern techniques.