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Atypical status of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Poland: a molecular typing study

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Summary

The aim of this study was to analyze molecular features of protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) in Western blots of BSE cases diagnosed in Poland with respect to a possible atypical status. Confirmed cases were analyzed by Western blotting with several monoclonal antibodies directed at N-terminal and core epitopes of prion protein (PrP). Most cases showed the classical glycoprofile characterized by the dominance of the di- over the monoglycosylated PrPres band, yielding di-/mono- ratios well above 2 and by reactivity with antibodies having their epitopes in bovine PrP region 110–242 (C-type cases). Surprisingly, seven cases of BSE were atypical. Six were classified as L-type based on a slightly lower molecular mass (Mr) of the non- glycosylated band with respect to C-types and a conspicuously low di-/mono- ratio of glycosylated PrPres bands approaching unity. One case was classified as H-type because of a higher Mr of PrPres bands on the blot when compared with C-type cases. A characteristic epitope of H-type PrPres occurred in the 101–110 region of PrP for which only antibody 12B2 had a sufficient affinity. The occurrence of atypical cases only in animals 9 years of age and older raises questions about the mechanisms of prion diseases and the origin of BSE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland

    M. P. Polak & J. F. Zmudzinski

  2. Central Institute for Animal Disease Control (CIDC-Lelystad), Lelystad, The Netherlands

    J. G. Jacobs & J. P. M. Langeveld

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  1. M. P. Polak
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  2. J. F. Zmudzinski
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  3. J. G. Jacobs
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  4. J. P. M. Langeveld
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Correspondence to M. P. Polak.

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Correspondence: Miroslaw Polak, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantow 57, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland

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Polak, M., Zmudzinski, J., Jacobs, J. et al. Atypical status of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Poland: a molecular typing study. Arch Virol 153, 69–79 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-007-1062-6

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