Methods of in vitro propagation and detection of infectious prion
AssigneeSouth Dakota State University
InventorALAN YOUNG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for the in vitro propagation of infectious prions (PrPSc) are provided. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are cultured with B cells and infected with prions. Methods of detecting infectious prions (PrPSc) in an animal or human are also provided. Peripheral blood B cells are collected from an animal or human suspected of being infected with infections prions, cultured with follicular dendritic cells, and the presence of infectious prions is detected.
Claims28
A method for in vitro propagation of infectious prions (PrPSc) comprising:
- providing a culture of follicular dendritic cells (FDC);
- adding infections prions to the FDC culture;
- and
- culturing the infected cells.
A method of detecting infectious prions (PrPSc) in an animal or human comprising:
- collecting peripheral blood B cells from an animal or human suspected of being infected with infections prions;
- co-culturing the B cells with cultured follicular dendritic cells;
- and
- detecting infectious prions by a specific binding assay.
A method of detecting infectious prions (PrPSc) in an animal or human comprising:
- obtaining a fluid, cellular or tissue sample from an animal or human suspected of being infected with infections prions;
- adding said sample to a culture of follicular dendritic cells and culturing said cells;
- and
- detecting infectious prions in said culture by specific binding assay.
A method for in vitro propagation of infectious prions (PrPSc) comprising:
- selecting an animal susceptible to a prion disorder;
- obtaining lymph node cells from said animal;
- selecting lymph node cells that bind antibodies specific for FDCs and culturing the resulting cells;
- selecting cells from the culture that bind antibodies specific for prion protein;
- infecting said selected cells with infections prions, and
- culturing said infected cells.
A method of detecting, and optionally quantifying, prion in a biological sample, said method comprising:
- contacting said biological sample with a mixed culture of FDCs and B-cells, under conditions that allow the infection thereof;
- and
- detecting infection or non-infection of the cultured cells, wherein the presence of infection is indicative of prion in the sample.
A kit for detecting infectious prions (PrPSc) in a biological sample, the kit comprising:
- cultured follicular dendritic cells (FDCs);
- antibodies specific for infectious prions (PrPSc).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.