Characterization of two distinct prion strains derived from bovine spongiform encephalopathy transmissions to inbred mice

• Published in: Journal of general virology 2004-08, Vol.85 (8), p.2471-2478
• Main Authors: Lloyd, Sarah E, Linehan, Jacqueline M, Desbruslais, Melanie, Joiner, Susan, Buckell, Jennifer, Brandner, Sebastian, Wadsworth, Jonathan D. F, Collinge, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform - transmission; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Neurology; Prions - analysis; Virology
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.79889-0

MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College, London WC1N 3BG, UK Correspondence John Collinge j.collinge{at}prion.ucl.ac.uk Distinct prion strains can be distinguished by differences in incubation period, neuropathology and biochemical properties of disease-associated prion protein (PrP Sc ) in inoculated mice. Reliable comparisons of mouse prion strain properties can only be achieved after passage in genetically identical mice, as host prion protein sequence and genetic background are known to modulate prion disease phenotypes. While multiple prion strains have been identified in sheep scrapie and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is thought to be caused by a single prion strain. Primary passage of BSE prions to different lines of inbred mice resulted in the propagation of two distinct PrP Sc types, suggesting that two prion strains may have been isolated. To investigate this further, these isolates were subpassaged in a single line of inbred mice (SJL) and it was confirmed that two distinct prion strains had been identified. MRC1 was characterized by a short incubation time (110±3 days), a mono-glycosylated-dominant PrP Sc type and a generalized diffuse pattern of PrP-immunoreactive deposits, while MRC2 displayed a much longer incubation time (155±1 days), a di-glycosylated-dominant PrP Sc type and a distinct pattern of PrP-immunoreactive deposits and neuronal loss. These data indicate a crucial involvement of the host genome in modulating prion strain selection and propagation in mice. It is possible that multiple disease phenotypes may also be possible in BSE prion infection in humans and other animals.