Scrapie pathogenesis in subclinically infected B-Cell-deficient mice

Prion infections can present without clinical manifestations. B-cell defici ency may be a model for subclinical transmissible spongiform encephalopathy , since it protects mice from disease upon intraperitoneal administration o f scrapie prions; however, a proportion of B-cell-deficient mice accumulate protease-resistant prion protein in their brains. Here, we have characteri zed this subclinical disease. In addition, we have studied the possibility that a neurotoxic factor secreted by B cells may contribute to pathogenesis .