[Recent data on prion diseases].

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or "prions diseases", provokes some controversies about their origins and possible transmission from animals to humans. Important advances were obtained recently on the genetical TSEs with the genotypic diagnosis methods based on the discovery of numerous mutations and inclusions in the PRNP gene coding for prion protein. The possible connection between the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the newvariant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nv-CJD) ask numerous questions in terms of public health. Lastly, the important problem of biological diagnosis of "prions diseases" presents interesting advances that must be continued and supported by the public health authorities.