Destruction of prions using vibriolysin or variants thereof

A method of reducing the activity of infectious prions, comprising:

• contacting a vibriolysin protease or variant thereof with said prions in an amount effective to cleave or degrade said prions or destroy their infective activity.

A method of sanitizing facilities or instruments contaminated with pirons comprising:

• contacting said prions with a solution comprising a vibriolysin protease or variant thereof in an amount effective to reduce or eradicate prion contamination of said instruments and facilities.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a DNA sequence encoding vibriolysin or a variant thereof, wherein said vibriolysin or a variant thereof has the ability to gain access to target sites that accumulate prions within the body, and a pharmaceutical carrier.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a DNA sequence encoding vibriolysin or a variant thereof, wherein said vibriolysin or a variant thereof has the ability to transform from an inactive state to an activated state capable of cleaving prions and a pharmaceutical carrier.

A formulation of the pharmaceutical composition comprising vibriolysin or a variant thereof, wherein said formulation is a prion-like structure, capable of tracking the infectious path of the prion from the lymphoreticular tissues to the nerves, spinal cord, brain stem, or brain.

A method of treating or preventing a prion-caused, prion-related or prion-like diseases in a subject or biological tissue in need thereof comprising:

• administering to said subject a formulation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a vibriolysin protease or variant thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount effective to treat or prevent said prion-caused, prion-related or prion-like diseases.