[Importance of genetic factors in pathogenesis of subacute spongiform viral encephalitis].

Recently there has been achieved a substantial progress in research concerning pathogenesis of subacute spongiform viral encephalopathies. For this group of disorders, there has been found a common unconventional virus - proteinaceous infectious particle (PrP). There has been recognised a molecular mass, biochemical composition and physicochemical properties of this infectious form. Mutations of scrapie amyloid precursor gene discovered in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) and familial cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) have been revealed. Nowadays examinations in the field of relationships between prion protein and mutations of scrapie precursor gene are continued.