Biology: Microbiology
Published

New findings about the prion protein and its interaction with the immune system      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disease which can function as a model for other diseases caused by an accumulation of proteins resulting in tissue malformations (proteinpathies), such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Many questions regarding these diseases still remain unanswered. A new study has uncovered a number of factors relating to the uptake of the prion protein (PrPSc) associated with the development of this disease and how this protein interacts with the immune cells in the intestines.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Cellular stress can induce yeast to promote prion formation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Biochemists have identified a yeast protein called Lsb2 that can promote spontaneous prion formation. Prions can cause neurodegenerative disorders, such as mad cow/Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, in humans and animals.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Tracking down BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have identified an altered expression of endogenous retroviruses in BSE-infected macaques.

Biology: Microbiology
Published

Two gene classes linked to new prion formation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered two classes of yeast genes that may hold clues as to why proteins take on the misfolded prion form, a condition associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as "mad cow."