Subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies. Scrapie, Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a review

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Spontaneous tranformation of human brain cells grown in vitro and description of associated viurs particles

A human brain cell culture grown in vitro has spontaneously transformed, as determined by morphology, growth characteristics, and karyotype analysis. Virus particles morphologically akin to oncogenic RNA viruses are present in the transformed cells, which are now in subculture 60.

Infection as the etiology of spongiform encephalopathy (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)

Fatal spongiform encephalopathy occurred in four chimpanzees 12 to 14 months after inoculation with suspensions of brain from four patients, respectively. Chimpanzee to chimpanzee transmission was effected without reduction in incubation period. Retransmission of the disease to a second chimpanzee occurred when an inoculum that had been stored at -70 degrees C for over 2 years was used.