Innovation Anthology #228:
Misfolded prions are the culprits behind a number of neuro-degenerative diseases such as mad cow and chronic wasting disease.
Genetic material called micro RNA’s may play a role in determining whether prion proteins are normal or misfold leading to disease.
Amrit Singh of the University of Manitoba is researching ways to deliver these micro RNA’s to the brain. She presented her findings at the poster competition at the recent Prion Conference in Edmonton.
AMRIT SINGH: During prion infection there is actually changes in micro RNA expression levels starting early in infection at 70 days. Whereas the actual prion infection can’t be detected until after death. So we are hoping that using a micro RNA therapy can help prolong the life of these animals And there is a recent study using a rabies virus glycoprotein which you can inject into blood circulation And it traverses the blood brain barrier directly. So you just inject in the blood and it targets the brain.
If successful this research could lead to a treatment for prion diseases and remove the need to work directly with infectious prions
Thanks today to The Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Guest
,
, , , ,
Sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Program Date: 2009-05-26