Heating Prion Protein in Calcium Hydroxide
Author Information
Author(s): Justin J Greenlee, Eric M Nicholson, Amir N Hamir, Gary P Noyes, Mark T Holtzapple, Marcus E Kehrli Jr
Primary Institution: Virus and Prion Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Hypothesis
Can incubating brain material from scrapie-infected sheep in near-boiling saturated calcium hydroxide solution abolish immunoreactivity of the infectious prion?
Conclusion
Boiling in limewater may offer an alternative for disposal of carcasses and enable alternative uses for rendered products from potentially infected carcasses.
Supporting Evidence
- Immunoreactivity of prion proteins was completely lost after 10 minutes of treatment.
- The method uses inexpensive chemicals for protein digestion.
- Calcium hydroxide treatment may provide a safe alternative for carcass disposal.
Takeaway
This study found that heating infected sheep brain in a special solution can destroy the harmful prion proteins, which could help safely dispose of animal remains.
Methodology
Brain material was incubated in saturated calcium hydroxide at 99°C and analyzed by western blot for immunoreactivity.
Limitations
The study does not confirm loss of infectivity, which requires further bioassay or cell culture studies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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