[Nature and physicochemical and biological properties of non conventional transmissible agents or prions: consequences for public health]. 1995

D Dormont
Laboratoire de Neuropathologie Expérimentale et Neurovirologie, CRSSA/CEA, DSV/DPTE, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are rare lethal diseases induced in humans and animals by unconventional agents (TSA) named also prions or virinos. TSA/prions have unconventional properties; in particular, they resist to almost all the chemical and physical processes which inactivate conventional viruses. Natural history of TSE indicates that organs are infectious a long time before the appearance of the clinical symptoms. The only specific marker of the TSA infections is the post-translational accumulation of the host encoded protein PrP (Prion Protein). Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) cases have been described after neurosurgery, treatment with pituitary derived hormones, and cornea and dura mater grafting. TSA associated infectivity is depending upon the nature of the organ in a given infected individual: central nervous system has the highest infectivity, spleen and lymph nodes a medium infectivity, and organs like bone or skin do not harbor any detectable infectious particle. Therefore, donors with neurologic history must be excluded and treatment with pituitary derived hormones should be considered as potentially infected with TSA, and excluded.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011328 Prions Small proteinaceous infectious particles which resist inactivation by procedures that modify NUCLEIC ACIDS and contain an abnormal isoform of a cellular protein which is a major and necessary component. The abnormal (scrapie) isoform is PrPSc (PRPSC PROTEINS) and the cellular isoform PrPC (PRPC PROTEINS). The primary amino acid sequence of the two isoforms is identical. Human diseases caused by prions include CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB SYNDROME; GERSTMANN-STRAUSSLER SYNDROME; and INSOMNIA, FATAL FAMILIAL. Mink Encephalopathy Virus,Prion,Encephalopathy Virus, Mink
D011634 Public Health Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of disease and disability, and the promotion of physical and mental health of the population on the international, national, state, or municipal level. Community Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine & Public Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine and Public Health,Health, Community,Health, Public
D005602 France A country in western Europe bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea, and the countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the principalities of Andorra and Monaco, and by the duchy of Luxembourg. Its capital is Paris. Corsica,Saint Pierre and Miquelon,Miquelon and Saint Pierre,Miquelon and St. Pierre,St. Pierre and Miquelon
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017096 Prion Diseases A group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated with abnormal PRIONS. These diseases are characterized by conversion of the normal prion protein to an abnormal configuration via a post-translational process. In humans, these conditions generally feature DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; and a fatal outcome. Pathologic features include a spongiform encephalopathy without evidence of inflammation. The older literature occasionally refers to these as unconventional SLOW VIRUS DISEASES. (From Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 Nov 10;95(23):13363-83) Dementias, Transmissible,Spongiform Encephalopathies, Transmissible,Transmissible Dementias,Encephalopathies, Spongiform, Transmissible,Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Inherited,Inherited Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies,Prion Disease,Prion Protein Diseases,Prion-Associated Disorders,Prion-Induced Disorder,Prion-Induced Disorders,Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies,Dementia, Transmissible,Disorder, Prion-Induced,Disorders, Prion-Induced,Encephalopathies, Transmissible Spongiform,Encephalopathy, Transmissible Spongiform,Prion Induced Disorder,Prion Protein Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathy, Transmissible,Transmissible Dementia,Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy

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