Method of detecting prions in a sample and transgenic animal used for same

US5763740A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Stanley B. Prusiner · San Francisco, US
• Michael R. Scott · Kama'oa Homesteads, US
• Glenn C. Telling · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 9, 1998
• Expiry date: Jul 31, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2800/2828
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention includes an artificial PrP gene, a transgenic animal containing a PrP gene of another animal or the artificial PrP gene, a hybrid non-human mammal with an ablated endogenous prion gene and exogenous prion gene and assay methodology which uses the animals to detect pathogenic prions in a sample or diagnose a cause of death. The artificial gene includes a sequence such that when it is inserted into the genome of a host animal (such as a mouse), the animal is rendered susceptible to infection with prions which normally would infect only a genetically diverse test animal (such as human, cow or sheep). The artificial PrP gene may be comprised of a completely artificial polynucleotide sequence. Alternatively, the artificial gene may be comprised of the codon sequence of a host animal with one or more codon substitutions being made wherein the substitutions are preferably corresponding PrP gene codons from a genetically diverse test animal. Pathogenic prions in a sample can be detected by injecting the sample to be tested into a transgenic mouse which includes the different codons of the prion protein gene of the animal (e.g. human) in danger of infection from prions in the …