Prion infection can overcome the species barrier

American scientists have discovered that prions, a species leads to the formation of prions in other species, what. To the emergence of a fundamentally new infectious proteins And for this effect is simple contact with a prion prion protein in another test tube. In their experiment, the researchers from the University of Texas mixed normal prion protein hamsters with infectious protein mice. Can infect, this led to the formation of new prion hamsters. It was the same when mixed with normal mouse proteins infectious hamster. And the symptoms can vary from the symptoms of prion infection, "traditional" for this species is indicative of the reception of the new types of prions. According to the conductor Claudio Soto (Claudio Soto), this means that there is the possibility of a variety of different infections, prions can be very dangerous. Prion - an infectious agent, which is a modification of the abnormal nerve cell membrane protein called PrP (prion protein), which catalyzes the conversion of normal PrP molecules in their own way. Normal protein called PrPC, as amended (prion) - PrPSc. As a result of degeneration of the brain tissue by the formation of many small cavities, which damaged the medulla of patients such as a sponge. Manifested disease slowly progressive disorder of memory and cognitive functions (dementia), which eventually leads to death. Prion formation may occur spontaneously, be the result of an inherited mutation of the gene, or in contact with prions from the outside - in neurosurgical manipulation, cannibalism and eating the brains of infected animals. The best-known prion disease (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) - is kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and BSE ("mad cow disease") in cattle. Treatment of prion infections.