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Updated: Feb 16, 2026
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Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay
Published on: March 10, 2015
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Prion Strains and Transmission Barrier Phenomena
Angélique Igel-Egalon1, Vincent Béringue2, Human Rezaei3
1Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, UR892, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France. Angelique.egalon@inra.fr.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 6, 2018
Summary
Prions, protein-only pathogens, exhibit strain variations and cross species barriers. Recent findings suggest strains are quasi-species, impacting prion disease transmission and host interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prions are unconventional infectious agents composed solely of proteins.
- Prion strain variations and interspecies transmission pose significant public health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in prion structure and strain characterization.
- To explore factors influencing prion species barrier strength and crossing.
- To present models for prion strain evolution and interspecies transmission.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical and recent studies on prion diseases.
- Analysis of experimental evidence on prion quasi-species and biophysical properties.
- Discussion of host-prion interactions and their role in disease emergence.
Main Results:
- Prion strains may represent combinations of quasi-species with distinct biophysical traits.
- Several factors influence the strength and outcome of the prion species barrier.
- Host factors play a critical role in selecting new prion variants and facilitating species barrier crossing.
Conclusions:
- Understanding prion quasi-species is key to characterizing prion strains.
- The interplay between prion properties and host genetics determines interspecies transmission.
- Further research is needed to predict and prevent prion disease emergence.
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