Scrapie Pathogenesis in Subclinically Infected B-Cell-Deficient Mice |
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Authors: | Rico Frigg Michael A Klein Ivan Hegyi Rolf M Zinkernagel and Adriano Aguzzi |
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Institution: | Institutes of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. |
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Abstract: | Prion infections can present without clinical manifestations. B-cell deficiency may be a model for subclinical transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, since it protects mice from disease upon intraperitoneal administration of scrapie prions; however, a proportion of B-cell-deficient mice accumulate protease-resistant prion protein in their brains. Here, we have characterized this subclinical disease. In addition, we have studied the possibility that a neurotoxic factor secreted by B cells may contribute to pathogenesis. |
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