The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs or prion diseases)are fatal untreatable neurodegenerative diseases such as scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), bovine spongiform encephalopathy and chronic wasting disease (CWD). TSE pathogenesis involves the accumulation of an abnormal misfolded protein, called PrPres, in infected hosts. This fiscal year, we have extended studies of the influence of chaperone proteins and peptides on PrPres formation. One chaperone protein was found to act as an inhibitor.

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Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$368,950
Indirect Cost
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Ferreira, N C; Ascari, L M; Hughson, A G et al. (2018) A Promising Antiprion Trimethoxychalcone Binds to the Globular Domain of the Cellular Prion Protein and Changes Its Cellular Location. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 62:
Kellock, Jackson; Hopping, Gene; Caughey, Byron et al. (2016) Peptides Composed of Alternating L- and D-Amino Acids Inhibit Amyloidogenesis in Three Distinct Amyloid Systems Independent of Sequence. J Mol Biol 428:2317-2328
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Wolfe, Lisa L; Kocisko, David A; Caughey, Byron et al. (2012) Assessment of prospective preventive therapies for chronic wasting disease in mule deer. J Wildl Dis 48:530-3
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Sim, Valerie L; Caughey, Byron (2009) Recent advances in prion chemotherapeutics. Infect Disord Drug Targets 9:81-91