DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTICS FOR TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY AND METHODS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NON-INFECTIVE BLOOD PRODUCTS AND TISSUE DERIVED PRODUCTS

摘要

B-cells have been identified as being the crucial carriers of infectivity in the spread of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy within an infected organism. In a second step, B-cells may infect further components of the immune system, e.g. T-cells. Accordingly, the present invention provides B-cell and T-cell specific ligands for the use in diagnostics and therapeutics for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and provides methods for the manufacture of non-infective blood products and tissue derived products. Thus, the present invention provides medicaments comprising B-cell and/or T-cell depletants, for the treatment of pathologies where the depletion of B-cells and/or T-cells, and more particularly of tse-infected B-cells and/or T-cells is therapeutically effective.