SEQUENCING ANALYSIS OF PRION GENES FROM RED DEER AND CAMEL

An abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrP) appears to be the agent responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The normal isoform of PrP is host-encoded and expressed in the central ner vous system. The recent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemi c in the UK and the incidence of prion-related diseases in other anima ls could indicate that ruminants are highly susceptible to infection v ia ingestion of prion-contaminated food. Sequence analysis of PrP gene open reading frames from red deer and camel was carried out to invest igate sequence variability of these genes among ruminants. (C) 1997 El sevier Science B.V.