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Updated: Jun 7, 2025

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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 Gene Sequencing in Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi) Suggests No Differential Susceptibility to
Elizabeth Sharkey1,2, David P Onorato3, Melody E Roelke-Parker4
1Department of Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics Cluster, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
|November 19, 2024
Abstract:
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, or prion disease, poses a serious threat to wildlife; however, the susceptibility of apex predators is still being assessed. We investigated variation in the prion protein gene in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) and found that admixture from Central American pumas probably introduced a novel, albeit benign, prion allele.

