Elucidation of the origin of typical bovine spongiform encephalopathy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05938
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Imamura Morikazu 宮崎大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10391442)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岩丸 祥史 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 動物衛生研究部門, グループ長 (20355142)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: プリオン / BSE

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, experiments to mimic prion transmission between heterologous animals and to examine spontaneous prion production were conducted using the PMCA method, an in vitro amplified prion amplification method, with the aim of clarifying the origin of the canonical BSE. As a result, in vitro amplification of multiple animal prions using heterologous normal prion protein (PrPC) as a substrate yielded prion-like products. Bioassays of some of these products showed that they were infectious to mice. Furthermore, PMCA using recombinant bovine PrP as a substrate without prion seed yielded recombinant prions that were infectious to bovine-expressing transgenic mice. Further detailed analysis of the properties of the generated prions is needed in the future.

Free Research Field

微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

定型BSEの起源については未だ十分な科学的根拠が得られておらず未解明のままである。定型BSEプリオンがどのように出現したかを明らかにすることで、国内のBSE発生防止対策の改善ならびに見直しに資する重要な科学的知見が得られ、定型BSEの再流行を阻止する効果的な方策が可能となるさらに、定型BSEプリオンが生み出される機序を明らかにすることで、プリオンが自発発生する機構の解明につながると考える。