Prion diseases - is the worst to come? The Biochemist, August issue

Main Category: CJD / vCJD / Mad Cow Disease
Article Date: 02 Aug 2005 - 1:00 PDT

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Early predictions of an epidemic have not proved true. But what if vCJD occurs in people of the same age as most CJD patients? Then the true epidemic will explode 20 years from now. The latest Biochemist takes a look at the prion family and how they work.

A field on fire
By David R. Brown
It is now ten years since the panic created by the first cases of variant CJD were identified. Has work in this field really advanced?

Copper and the prion protein
By John H Viles
The normal function of the prion protein is yet to be established, but its affinity for copper ions also suggest a role in copper homeostasis.

Fungal prions
By Laurent Malato and Sven Saupe
Fungal prions represent valuable model systems because they are safe to handle and incomparably easier to study than mammalian prions.

Prion protein genetics
By Wilfred Goldmann
By far the most important host gene in TSEs is the PrP (prion) protein gene. It modulates TSE susceptibility at many levels and is the crucial element in the treatment and eradication of these diseases.

The search for a cure
By Lee J. Byrne and Mick F. Tuite
There is increasing activity, but as yet limited success, in the search for therapeutic compounds that can be used to treat these diseases. This is in part because a number of significant problems exist hampering the route to rational drug screening strategies.

Making blood safe
By S. O. Sowemimo-Coker (Pall Corporation)
A new filtration technology that removes prions from red cell concentrates has been developed and it will be available commercially in Europe this summer.

From pabulum to prions (via DNA): a tale of two Griffiths
By John R Lagnado

All this plus Helen Wallace, of GeneWatch UK, on genetic testing and insurance, book reviews and exhibition reports.

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