Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

09:00
Use of the Protease Fluorescent Detection Kit to Determine Protease Activity
Published on: August 4, 2009
28.9K
Variable Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy Transmission to Bank Voles
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|December 19, 2018
Summary
Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) transmission was achieved in bank voles, revealing distinct disease phenotypes. This study highlights bank voles as a model for studying human prion diseases like VPSPr.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Prion Biology
- Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Background:
- Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) is a rare human prion disease.
- VPSPr is characterized by a unique protease-resistant prion protein (resPrPD) profile.
- Previous transmission studies in transgenic mice were incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmissibility and characteristics of VPSPr in bank voles.
- To determine if bank voles can fully propagate VPSPr and its associated prion protein profiles.
- To explore the potential of bank voles as a model for human prion diseases.
Main Methods:
- Bioassay of VPSPr in bank voles.
- Analysis of prion protein (PrPD) profiles in transmitted cases.
- Assessment of attack rates and survival times across passages.
Main Results:
- Complete transmission of VPSPr was achieved in bank voles across two passages.
- Observed 3 distinct phenotypes with varied resPrPD profiles, mimicking sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease.
- Second passage rates reached 100% with a 50% reduction in survival time.
Conclusions:
- Bank voles are susceptible to human prion strains, including VPSPr.
- Bank voles can reveal underrepresented prion strains but may not fully replicate complex VPSPr resPrPD profiles.
- VPSPr transmission in bank voles provides a valuable model for studying human prion diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Variability: Analysis
509
Measures of variability are statistical metrics that reveal the dispersion pattern within a dataset. They are pivotal in biostatistics, providing insights into the heterogeneity within health and biological data. Variability signifies the degree to which data points diverge from one another, helping researchers understand the potential range of values and associated uncertainty within the data.
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
509
Random Variables
17.8K
A random variable is a single numerical value that indicates the outcome of a procedure. The concept of random variables is fundamental to the probability theory and was introduced by a Russian mathematician, Pafnuty Chebyshev, in the mid-nineteenth century.
Uppercase letters such as X or Y denote a random variable. Lowercase letters like x or y denote the value of a random variable. If X is a random variable, then X is written in words, and x is given as a number.
For example, let X = the...
Uppercase letters such as X or Y denote a random variable. Lowercase letters like x or y denote the value of a random variable. If X is a random variable, then X is written in words, and x is given as a number.
For example, let X = the...
17.8K
Graphs of Equations in Two Variables
244
An equation with two variables, typically written in the form y = f(x) or Ax + By = C, describes a relationship between quantities represented by x and y. Each solution to such an equation is an ordered pair (x, y) that satisfies the equation when substituted. These pairs can be represented graphically to understand the variables' relationship visually.A common technique for constructing the graph of a two-variable equation is to create a value table. Begin by choosing several values for the...
244
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
1.5K
Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...
1.5K
Work and Energy for Variable Forces
5.8K
When an object is acted upon by a variable force, the amount of work done and the change in energy of the object can be more complex to calculate compared to when a constant force is applied. Work is the product of force and displacement, while energy is the capacity of a system to do work. When a constant force is applied to an object, the work done can be calculated as the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of the force. However, when a variable force is applied, the...
5.8K
Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
306
Solving a system of linear equations is a fundamental concept in algebra. A system of equations consists of two or more linear equations involving the same set of variables. One of the most efficient algebraic methods for solving such systems is the substitution method. This technique involves expressing one variable in terms of the other from one equation and substituting it into the second equation. This method is particularly useful when one of the equations is easily rearranged.Consider the...
306

