NR AWGM

AU Haybaeck,J.; Heikenwalder,M.; Margalith,I.; Zeller,N.; Bridell,C.; Schwarz,P.; Merz,K.; Gaguli,E.; Stitz,L.; Aguzzi,A.

TI Intranasal and aerosolic prion transmission

QU International Conference - Prion 2006: Strategies, advances and trends towards protection of society - 3.10.-6.10.2006, Torino, Italy, Lingotto Conference Centre - Poster sessions PA-21

PT Konferenz-Poster

AB Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals. The underlying infectious agent, the prion, was shown to accumulate not only in the central nervous system (CNS) but also in secondary lymphoid organs of patients suffering from sCJD and vCJD. Prions can colonize hosts by a variety of extracerebral routes, including parenteral injection, transdermal administration after skin scarification, and oral administration. In contrast, prions are not generally considered to be transmissible by aerial routes. Here we have investigated the transmissibility potential of prions administered intranasally or by aerosols. Various transgenic mouse models (e.g. NSE-PrP; tga20) expressing the cellular prion protein (PrPc) in specific compartments or cells of the brain or the periphery (e.g. exclusively in the central nervous system) were investigated to identify the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) of prion invasion via the intranasal or aerosolic route. Moreover, we focused on elucidating if prions transmigrate directly into the brain via the olfactory bulb or if cells of the immune system control prion entry via the intranasal or aerosolic route. Results of this study identify prion aerosols or prions administered intranasally as a startlingly efficacious pathway of prion transmission, and call for appropriate revisions of prion-related biosafety guidelines.

AD J. Haybaeck, M. Heikenwalder, I. Margalith, N. Zeller, C. Bridell, P. Schwarz, K. Merz, A. Aguzzi: Institute of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland; E. Gaguli, L. Stitz: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Immunology, Tübingen, Germany

SP englisch

PO Italien

EA Poster

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