Detecting cow, sheep and human prions in a sample and transgenic mice used for same
US6008435A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2800/2828
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Transgenic animals are produced which animals have (1) their endogenous PrP gene ablated; and (2) have an exogenous PrP gene from a genetically diverse animal. The transgenic animal is preferably a mouse, rat or hamster with mice being particularly preferred. The exogenous PrP gene is preferably from a sheep, cow, or pig with cow PrP genes being particularly preferred. When a mouse of the invention is inoculated with a sample containing prions which generally only infects a genetically diverse species (e.g. a cow) the mouse will become ill within about 250 days or less. Methods of producing the transgenic animals are disclosed including (1) microinjecting a mouse egg (having an ablated endogenous PrP gene) with a bovine PrP gene, or (2) breeding a mouse with an ablated PrP gene with a mouse with a bovine PrP gene. Mice produced are used to test samples for the presence of prions which generally only infect cows.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.