Method

• US 20040132109A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: D-Gen Limited
• Original Assignee: D-Gen Limited
• Inventors: Collinge, John, Flechsig, Eckhard, Enari, Masato, Weismann, Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/470,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/2828 Prion diseases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/553 Metal or metal coated
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6896 Neurological disorders, e.g. Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for determining the presence of prions in a tissue/organ or fluid therefrom; said method comprising the steps of: contacting the tissue/organ with one or more devices, wherein said devices are capable of binding prions; removing said devices from contact with said tissue/organ; determining if said devices are binding prions wherein the device is contacted with the tissue/organ for 120 minutes.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the presence of prions in a tissue/organ;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) contacting the tissue/organ with a device, wherein said device is capable of binding prions;

(b) removing said device from contact with said tissue/organ; and

(c) determining if said device is binding prions.

3. A method according to claims 1 or claim 2 wherein the device is capable of preserving prions against degradation.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the tissue/organ is a mammalian tissue/organ.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the tissue/organ is a livestock or a human tissue/organ.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the tissue/organ is an tissue/organ in which prions accumulate.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the tissue/organ is selected from brain, spleen, lymph node or tonsil.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the device comprises metal.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the metal comprises one or more metal(s) selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, silver, gold or combinations thereof.

10. A method according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the device(s) comprise one or more wires.

25. A method according to any of claims 1 to 24 wherein the device is contacted with the tissue/organ for 120 minutes or less.

26. A method according to any of claims 1 to 24 wherein the device is contacted with the tissue/organ for 30 minutes or less.

27. A method according to any of claims 1 to 24 wherein the device is contacted with the tissue/organ for 5 minutes or less.

2. A non-invasive method for detecting the presence of prions in a tissue/organ;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) contacting the tissue/organ with a device, wherein said device is capable of binding prions;

(b) removing said device from contact with said tissue/organ; and

(c) determining if said device is binding prions.

11. A method for determining if a device is binding prions comprising the steps of:

contacting one or more test animal(s) with a device;

incubating the test animal(s);

monitoring the test animal(s) for adverse effects or death; and

optionally performing a biopsy on any test animal(s) that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said device is contacted with one or more test animals for 1 hour or more per test animal.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said device is contacted with one or more test animals for 5 hours or more per test animal.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said device is contacted with one or more test animals for more than 5 hours per test animal.

15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the test animal(s) are mammals.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the test animal(s) are mice.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the test animal(s) are transgenic mice.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the transgenic mice comprise one or more PrP transgene(s).

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the PrP transgene(s) encode a mammalian PrP.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the PrP transgene(s) encode a livestock or a human PrP.

21. A method for determining if a device is binding prions comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a cell line with a device;

(b) incubating the cell line; and

(c) determining if the cell line contain prions.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein it is determined if the cell line(s) contain prions using a protein assay, an immunoassay, Western blotting or cell blotting.

23. A method for determining if a device is binding prions by detecting said prions directly on the surface of said device.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein it is determined if prions are bound to the surface of said device using a protein assay, an immunoassay or Western blotting.

28. A device capable of binding prions, wherein said device comprises metal.

29. A device according to claim 28 wherein the device comprises any one or more metal(s) selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, silver, gold or combinations thereof.

30. A device according to claim 28 or claim 29 wherein said device comprises one or more wires.

31. A device as defined in any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein prions are preserved when bound to said device.