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Prion Safety Laboratory Swipe Test
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Biosafety of Prions.
Edoardo Bistaffa1, Martina Rossi2, Chiara M G De Luca3
1IRCCS Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy; Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
|August 26, 2017
Summary
Prions cause untreatable Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). New in vitro methods like PMCA and RT-QuIC amplify prions, but their infectious properties require careful assessment due to inactivation challenges.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prions are infectious agents responsible for fatal neurodegenerative Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs).
- The precise pathogenic mechanisms and infectious nature of prions remain incompletely understood.
- The inherent resistance of prions to inactivation necessitates stringent safety protocols for laboratory work.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges associated with prion research.
- To introduce advanced in vitro prion amplification techniques.
- To emphasize the critical need for assessing the infectivity of amplified prions.
Main Methods:
- Review of prion characteristics and TSE pathogenesis.
- Discussion of innovative in vitro amplification technologies: Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) and Real Time Quaking-Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC).
- Emphasis on the necessity of evaluating the biological activity and infectivity of amplified prion materials.
Main Results:
- Prions present significant challenges in inactivation and handling.
- PMCA and RT-QuIC enable in vitro amplification of prions.
- Assessing the infectivity of in vitro amplified prions is crucial but complex.
Conclusions:
- Understanding prion diseases requires continued research into their fundamental properties.
- In vitro amplification technologies offer powerful tools for prion studies.
- Rigorous evaluation of infectivity is paramount for the safe application of prion amplification methods.
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