Tracking and clarifying differential traits of classical- and atypical L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions after transmission from cattle to cynomolgus monkeys

Lack of Evidence for Transmission of Atypical H-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Prions (H-BSE Prions) by Intracranial and Oral Challenges to Nonhuman Primates

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a prion disease in cattle caused by classical-type (C-), L-type (L-), or H-type (H-) BSE prions. While C-BSE prions are zoonotic agents responsible for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, L- and H-BSE prions are believed not to be connected to human prion diseases. However, L-BSE prions have been shown to transmit to cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), suggesting they may have zoonotic potential. In the present study, we examined whether H-BSE prions are transmissible to cynomolgus monkeys. The monkeys were injected intracranially (n = 2) or given orally (n = 2) with brain homogenates from a cow infected with H-BSE prions. After asymptomatic observation periods of 4-6 years, the monkeys were euthanized for autopsy. Histological examination of the brain did not reveal any pathological changes. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses did not detect disease-associated forms of prion protein (PrPSc) in the brain, peripheral neurons, or lymphatic tissues. The unsuccessful transmission indicates an effective barrier against the transmission of cattle H-BSE prions to cynomolgus monkeys. Based on the results obtained in this nonhuman primate model, we estimated that the potential transmission of H-BSE prions to humans is substantially lower than C- and L-BSE prions.

Species-specific identification of donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants using marker peptides

Donkey-hide gelatin is an important traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skin. Despite decades of effort, identifying the animal materials (donkeys, horses, cattle and pigs) in donkey-hide gelatin remains challenging. In our study, we aimed to identify marker peptides of donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants and develop a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to identify them. Theoretical marker peptides of four animals (donkeys, horses, cattle and pigs) were predicted and verified by proteomic experiments, and 12 species-specific marker peptides from donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants were identified. One marker peptide for each gelatin was selected to develop the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The applicability of the method was evaluated by investigating homemade mixed gelatin samples and commercial donkey-hide gelatin products. Using the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method, the addition of cattle-hide gelatin and pig-hide gelatin to donkey-hide gelatin could be detected at a level of 0.1%. Horse-hide gelatin was detected when added at a level of 0.5%. Among 18 batches of donkey-hide gelatin products, nine were identified as authentic, and eight of the remaining samples were suspected to be adulterated with horse materials. These results provide both a practical method to control the quality of donkey-hide gelatin and a good reference for quality evaluations of other medicinal materials and foods containing protein components.

First Report of the Potential Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)-Related Somatic Mutation E211K of the Prion Protein Gene (PRNP) in Cattle

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a prion disease characterized by spongiform degeneration and astrocytosis in the brain. Unlike classical BSE, which is caused by prion-disease-contaminated meat and bone meal, the cause of atypical BSE has not been determined. Since previous studies have reported that the somatic mutation in the human prion protein gene (PRNP) has been linked to human prion disease, the somatic mutation of the PRNP gene was presumed to be one cause of prion disease. However, to the best of our knowledge, the somatic mutation of this gene in cattle has not been investigated to date. We investigated somatic mutations in a total of 58 samples, including peripheral blood; brain tissue including the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, cortex, and thalamus; and skin tissue in 20 individuals from each breed using pyrosequencing. In addition, we estimated the deleterious effect of the K211 somatic mutation on bovine prion protein by in silico evaluation tools, including PolyPhen-2 and PANTHER. We found a high rate of K211 somatic mutations of the bovine PRNP gene in the medulla oblongata of three Holsteins (10% ± 4.4%, 28% ± 2%, and 19.55% ± 3.1%). In addition, in silico programs showed that the K211 somatic mutation was damaging. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate K211 somatic mutations of the bovine PRNP gene that are associated with potential BSE progression.

Nanoemulsions for targeting the neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Prion's

Neurodegenerative diseases need the drugs to be delivered right inside the brain to maximizing the therapeutic effects. This can be achieved by use of novel targeted delivery systems such as nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions (NE) are nano-sized emulsions that are manufactured for enhancing the delivery of drugs to the targeted site and minimize adverse effects and toxic reactions. Looking into the advanced pharmaceutical applications of NE, the present review gives an insight to the understanding of the application of NE in NDs like AD, PD and Prion's disease. The review also touches upon the pathophysiology of these ND diseases to have a clear understanding of the molecular aspects of the disease. Finally, the review sets a standpoint of nanoemulsion's significance in the treatment therapy of ND besides the drawbacks associated with the current drug therapy in NDs.