ARS | Publication request: ESTABLISHMENT OF A REAL TIME-PCR BASED ASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF OVINE PRP MRNA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 29, 2004
Publication Date: October 14, 2004
Citation: Nicholson, E.M., Young, A.J., Richt, J. 2004. Establishment of a real time-PCR based assay for the determination of ovine PrP mRNA [abstract]. Animal Prion Diseases and the Americas. p. 90.

Technical Abstract: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) comprise a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by accumulation of an abnormal form of the prion protein (PrP), termed PrPSc, an isoform of the normal host protein PrPC. Scrapie in sheep has been recognized for over 200 years, and the disease is present world-wide with the exception of New Zealand and Australia. Despite the presence of known susceptible and resistant sheep PrP genotypes, the disease process remains poorly understood. Knowledge of the expression levels of PrP could contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in susceptibility and resistance to scrapie. Here we describe a sensitive real time-PCR based assay utilizing SYBR Green technology for the determination of the ovine PrP mRNA. This assay is currently being utilized to study tissue specific expression of PrP in sheep with resistant and susceptible genotypes.