Research Project: Elucidating the Pathobiology and Transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Location: Virus and Prion Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Comparison of acetone and sodium phosphotungstic acid precipitation for sample enrichment prior to RT-QuIC for the detection of prion disease - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nicholson, E.M., Veneziano, S.E. 2026. Comparison of acetone and sodium phosphotungstic acid precipitation for sample enrichment prior to RT-QuIC for the detection of prion disease. BMC Research Notes. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-026-07755-0.

Regulated coexpression of PrP from different species in mice impacts the replication and host range properties of prion strains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Defranco, J.P., Bian, J., Kim, S., Atkinson, Z.N., Crowell, J., Kang, H., Bodrogi, H.O., Christiansen, J.R., Diaz-Dominguez, C.M., Telling, G.C. 2025. Regulated coexpression of PrP from different species in mice impacts the replication and host range properties of prion strains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2515284122.

Refined transgenic mouse models which recapitulate the natural features of chronic wasting disease with rapid prion disease onsets - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
DeFranco, J.P., Kim, S., Atkinson, Z.N., Crowell, J., Lei, S.S., Bian, J., Telling, G.C. 2025. Refined transgenic mouse models which recapitulate the natural features of chronic wasting disease with rapid prion disease onsets. Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf529.

Emergence of transmissible minor prion strains following heat exposure - (Abstract Only)

Differences between the white-tailed and mule deer chronic wasting disease agents after passage through sheep - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Frese, A.J., Cassmann, E.D., Bian, J., Mandell, L.Z., Smadi, S., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2025. Differences between the white-tailed and mule deer chronic wasting disease agents after passage through sheep. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 12. Article 1632936. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1632936.

Microglia-specific NF-kB signaling is a critical regulator of prion-induced glial inflammation and neuronal loss - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hay, A.J., Popichak, K.A., Mumford, G., Bian, J., Payton, S., Wolfrath, L., Eggers, M., Nicholson, E.M., Tjalkens, R.B., Zabel, M.D., Moreno, J.A. 2025. Microglia-specific NF-kB signaling is a critical regulator of prion-induced glial inflammation and neuronal loss. PLoS Pathogens. 21(6). Article 1012582. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012582.

Different transmissible properties of CWD prions from North America and Northern Europe in cervidized gene-targeted mice - (Abstract Only)

The strain properties of Korean and North American chronic wasting disease prions are indistinguishable - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hyun Joo, S., Joseph, D.P., Hoo-Chang, P., Je Park, K., Bian, J., Crowell, J., Kim, S., Webster, B.K., Hae-Eun, K., Telling, G.C. 2025. The strain properties of Korean and North American chronic wasting disease prions are indistinguishable. Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf210.

Detection of prions in wild pigs (Sus scrofa) from areas with reported chronic wasting disease cases, United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Soto, P., Bravo-Risi, F., Benavente, R., Stimming, T., Bodenchuk, M.J., Whitley, P., Turnage, C., Spraker, T.R., Greenlee, J.J., Telling, G., Malmberg, J., Gidlewski, T., Nichols, T., Brown, V.R., Moralas, R. 2024. Detection of prions in wild pigs (Sus scrofa) from areas with reported chronic wasting disease cases, United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 31(1):168-173. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3101.240401.

Minor prion substrains overcome transmission barriers - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Steadman, B.S., Bian, J., Shikiya, R.A., Bartz, J.C. 2024. Minor prion substrains overcome transmission barriers. mBio. 15(11). Article e02721-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02721-24.

Aqueous extraction of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and detection of prion disease using real-time quaking-induced conversion - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nicholson, E.M., Greenlee, J.J., Hwang, S. 2024. Aqueous extraction of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and detection of prion disease using real-time quaking-induced conversion. BMC Research Notes. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-024-06886-6.

Transmission of classical scrapie using lymph node inoculum - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alexis, F.J., West Greenlee, H.M., Bian, J., Greenlee, J.J. 2024. Transmission of classical scrapie using lymph node inoculum. Research in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105348.

Propagation of distinct CWD prion strains during peripheral and intracerebral challenges of gene-targeted mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Joseph, D.P., Bian, J., Sehun, K., Jenna, C., Tomas, B., Bailey, W.K., Zoe, A.N., Glenn, T.C. 2024. Propagation of distinct CWD prion strains during peripheral and intracerebral challenges of gene-targeted mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2402726121.

Scrapie versus chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lambert, Z.J., Bian, J., Cassmann, E.D., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2024. Scrapie versus chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3008.240007.

Alterations in prion mutant spectra precede strain breakdown in animals - (Abstract Only)

Temporal serum neurofilament light chain concentrations in sheep inoculated with the agent of classical scrapie - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lathrop, Q.L., Nicholson, E.M., Wang, C., Greenlee, J.J., Seger, H., Veneziano, S.E., Cassmann, E.D. 2024. Temporal serum neurofilament light chain concentrations in sheep inoculated with the agent of classical scrapie. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299038.

Large-scale validation of skin prion seeding activity as a biomarker for diagnosis of prion diseases - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, W., Orru, C.D., Foutz, A., Ding, M., Yuan, J., Shah, S., Zhang, J., Kotobelli, K., Gerasimenko, M., Gilliland, T., Chen, W., Tang, M., Cohen, M., Safar, J., Xu, B., Hong, D., Ciu, L., Hughson, A.G., Schonberger, L.B., Tatsuoka, C., Chen, S.G., Greenlee, J.J., Wang, Z., Appleby, B.S., Caughey, B., Zou, W. 2024. Large-scale validation of skin prion seeding activity as a biomarker for diagnosis of prion diseases. Acta Neuropathologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-023-02661-2.

Disease phenotype of classical sheep scrapie is changed upon experimental passage through white-tailed deer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kokemuller, R., Moore, S., Bian, J., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. Disease phenotype of classical sheep scrapie is changed upon experimental passage through white-tailed deer. PLoS Pathogens. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011815.

Update: CWD genetic resistance project at NADC - (Trade Journal)
Cassmann, E.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. Update: CWD genetic resistance project at NADC. North American Deer Farmer. P. 83.

Short incubation periods of atypical H-type BSE to cattle with EK211 and KK211 prion protein genotypes after intracranial inoculation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cassmann, E.D., Freese, L.J., Becker, K.A., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. Short incubation periods of atypical H-type BSE to cattle with EK211 and KK211 prion protein genotypes after intracranial inoculation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1301998.

Is there a risk of transmission of the CWD agent to non-cervid species - (Trade Journal)

A comparison of CWD and scrapie in white-tailed deer and sheep - (Abstract Only)
Greenlee, J.J., Lambert, Z.J., Bian, J., West Greenlee, H.M. 2023. A comparison of CWD and scrapie in white-tailed deer and sheep (abstract). Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium Proceedings. 4th International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, May 30-June 3, 2023, Denver, Colorado.

Preliminary results for neurofilament light chain as a serum biomarker for chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer - (Abstract Only)
Cassmann, E.D., Quazetta, B., Lambert, Z., Frese, L., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. Preliminary results for neurofilament light chain as a serum biomarker for chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer (abstract). Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium Proceedings. 4th International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, May 30-June 3, 2023, Denver, Colorado.

The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer is highly infectious to humanized mice after passage through raccoons - (Abstract Only)
Cassmann, E.D., Qi, X., Kong, Q., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer is highly infectious to humanized mice after passage through raccoons (abstract). Meeting Abstract. 4th International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, May 30-June 3, 2023, Denver, Colorado.

The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer fails to adapt to sheep upon second passage - (Abstract Only)
Frese, A.J., Cassmann, E.D., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer fails to adapt to sheep upon second passage (abstract). Meeting Abstract. 4th International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, May 30-June 3, 2023, Denver, Colorado.

Scrapie as the potential origin of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer - (Abstract Only)
Lambert, Z.J., West Greenlee, H.M., Bian, J., Cassmann, E.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2023. Scrapie as the potential origin of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer (abstract). Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium Proceedings. 4th International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, May 30-June 3, 2023, Denver, Colorado.

Effect of inoculation with prion dilutions within the dynamic range of ELISA absorbance on prion incubation period - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cassmann, E.D., Brown, Q.L., Frese, A.J., Lambert, Z.J., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. Effect of inoculation with prion dilutions within the dynamic range of ELISA absorbance on prion incubation period. Veterinary Research Communications. 46(4):1377-1380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-022-10013-w.

Combinatorial treatment of brain samples from sheep with scrapie using sodium percarbonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and proteinase K increases survival time in inoculated susceptible sheep - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harm, T.A., Smith, J.D., Cassmann, E.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. Combinatorial treatment of brain samples from sheep with scrapie using sodium percarbonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and proteinase K increases survival time in inoculated susceptible sheep. Research in Veterinary Science. 152:497-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.09.002.

Comparison of protein hallmarks of ferroptosis in mice with prion disease - (Abstract Only)
Mathias, C.E., Greenlee, H.W., Greenlee, J.J., Cassmann, E.D. 2022. Comparison of protein hallmarks of ferroptosis in mice with prion disease (abstract). Meeting Abstract. p.198.

Transmission of raccoon passaged chronic wasting disease agent to white-tailed deer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cassmann, E.D., Frese, A.J., Moore, S.J., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. Transmission of raccoon passaged chronic wasting disease agent to white-tailed deer. Viruses. 14(7). Article 1578. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14071578.

Exploring the possibility of CWD transmission through artificial insemination of semen from CWD positive bucks - (Trade Journal)
Cassmann, E.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. Exploring the possibility of CWD transmission through artificial insemination of semen from CWD positive bucks. North American Deer Farmer. p. 107-109.

Cattle with the EK211 PRNP polymorphism are susceptible to the H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent from either E211K or wild type donors after oronasal inoculation - (Abstract Only)
Greenlee, J.J., Cassmann, E.D., Moore, S., West Greenlee, H.M. 2022. Cattle with the EK211 PRNP polymorphism are susceptible to the H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent from either E211K or wild type donors after oronasal inoculation. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):150. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

Application of PMCA to understand CWD prion strains, species barrier and zoonotic potential - (Abstract Only)
Pritzkow, S., Gorski, D., Ramirez, F., Wang, F., Telling, G.C., Greenlee, J.J., Benestad, S.L., Soto, C. 2022. Application of PMCA to understand CWD prion strains, species barrier and zoonotic potential. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):209. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

ATYPRION project: assessing the zoonotic potential of interspecies transmission of CWD isolates to livestock (preliminary results) - (Abstract Only)
Vidal, E., Espinosa, J., Giler, S., Ordonez, M., Cantero, G., Beringue, V., Greenlee, J.J., Torres, J. 2022. ATYPRION project: assessing the zoonotic potential of interspecies transmission of CWD isolates to livestock (preliminary results). Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):240. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer is highly infectious to humanized mice after passage through raccoons - (Abstract Only)
Cassmann, E.D., Qi, X., Kong, Q., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer is highly infectious to humanized mice after passage through raccoons. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):120. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer fails to adapt to sheep upon second passage - (Abstract Only)
Frese, A.J., Cassmann, E.D., West Greenlee, H.M., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. The chronic wasting disease agent from white-tailed deer fails to adapt to sheep upon second passage. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):144. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

Generation of human chronic wasting disease in transgenic mice - (Abstract Only)
Wang, Z., Qin, K., Camacho, M.V., Cali, I., Yuan, J., Shen, P., Gilliland, T., Shah, S., Gerasimenko, M., Tang, M., Rajamanickam, S., Yadati, A., Schonberger, L.B., Greenlee, J.J., Kong, Q., Mastrianni, J.A., Zou, W. 2022. Generation of human chronic wasting disease in transgenic mice. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):243. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

Second passage of scrapie in white-tailed deer is discernable from chronic wasting disease - (Abstract Only)
Lambert, Z., West Greenlee, H.M., Cassmann, E.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2022. Second passage of scrapie in white-tailed deer is discernable from chronic wasting disease. Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries. 16(1):181. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286.

Generation of human chronic wasting disease in transgenic mice - (Proceedings)
Wang, Z., Qin, K., Camacho, M.V., Cali, I., Yuan, J., Shen, P., Greenlee, J.J., Kong, Q., Mastrianni, J.A., Zou, W. 2022. Generation of human chronic wasting disease in transgenic mice. Proceedings of 10th Iberian Congress on Prions, May 19-20, 2022, Vila Real, Portugal.

Differential accumulation of misfolded prion strains in natural hosts of prion diseases - (Review Article)
Lambert, Z., Greenlee, J.J., Cassmann, E.D., West Greenlee, H.M. 2021. Differential accumulation of misfolded prion strains in natural hosts of prion diseases. Viruses. 13(12). Article 2453. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13122453.

Attempted transmission of the CWD agent to deer with potentially resistant prion protein genotypes - (Trade Journal)
Greenlee, J.J., Cassmann, E.D. 2022. Attempted transmission of the CWD agent to deer with potentially resistant prion protein genotypes. North American Deer Farmer. p. 117.