IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF PRION CONVERSION IN VITRO AND SENSITIVITY OF PRION DETECTION

摘要

The present invention relates to improved methods and kits for the amplification detection of pathogenic prion proteins in samples. In some aspects of the invention, the method comprises: i) contacting the sample with a source of PrPC to make a reaction mixture; ii) incubating the reaction mixture; iii) agitating the reaction mixture of (ii) in the presence of one or more beads; and iv) detecting the amplified PrPSc. The present invention also provides methods of screening to identify agents that modulate PrPSc formation, by carrying out the methods of the invention in the presence and absence of the agent, and comparing the amount of PrPSc generated between the samples. The present methods can be employed to obtain quantities of PrPSc for structural or other studies.