[Analysis and applications of a PrP antibody elicited by synthesized human PrP peptides].

BACKGROUND

To further study the immuno-reactivity and specificity of a PrP antibody elicited by synthesized human PrP peptides.

METHODS

Construction of a plasmid which expresses a N-terminus deleted human PrP protein and purification of this truncated protein. The prepared PrP antibody was tested for reaction with various prokaryotic expressed human PrP proteins,including the full-length protein,the N-terminus-and C-terminus-truncated proteins with Western blot. The antibody was also used in the immunofluorescence assays to identify the PrP proteins expressed from the cell lines transfected with human PrP genes. Moreover,the brain tissues from scrapie agents-infected hamsters and a CJD patient were extracted and the proteinase K-resistant PrP-res were analyzed with the prepared antibody.

RESULTS

The PrP-peptide elicited antibody could recognize both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expressed human PrP proteins, as well as the PrP-res proteins in the brain tissues both from the scrapie-infected hamsters and CJD patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The tested antibody possesses eligible immuno-reactivity and specificity and can be used for diagnosis of CJD in the clinical work.