TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES - TRANSMISSION, MECHANISM OF DISEASE, AND PERSISTENCE

Prion protein is central to the control of development of ail transmis sible spongiform encephalopathies. Controversy exists as to whether th e protein itself is responsible for disease manifestation, in one of p erhaps several isoforms, or whether an additional informational molecu le must be involved in conjunction with the protein. Recent studies ha ve been trying to resolve these issues.