[compost_tea] Scientists Discover Enzyme Degrades Mad Cow Disease Prion (fwd)

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2004 14:40:13 -0500

Look at this! Keratinase is indicated as the enzyme that decomposes prions! Good old Bacillus licheniformis! This is good news, because guess what compost abounds in? If you use hair, feathers, fungal hyphae and other similar materials in the compost, you are enhancing keratinase! So, compost is a good way to deal with suspect materials. Phew!

So, what concentrations needed to make sure 100% reduction? Well, that needs to be figured out.

Elaine


In a message dated 1/7/2004 1:31:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, marilyn_at_DELIBERATE.COM writes:

> Enzymatic Degradation of Prion Protein in Brain Stem from Infected Cattle and Sheep”
> Authors: Jan P.M. Langeveld, Dick F.M. Van de Wiel, G. Jan Garssen and Alex Bossers, Central Institute for Animal Disease Control, Lelystad, The Netherlands; Jeng-Jie Wang and Giles Shih, BioResource International; and Jason C.H. Shih, Dept of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University
> Published: Dec. 1, 2003, edition of The Journal of Infectious Diseases
>
> Abstract: Prions – infectious agents involved in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies – normally survive proteolytic and mild protein-destructive processes. Using bacterial keratinase produced by Bacillus licheniformis strain PWD-1, we tested conditions to accomplish the full degradation of prion protein (PrP) in brain-stem tissue from animals with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and scrapie. The detection of PrP^Sc, the disease-associated isoform of PrP, in homogenates was done by Western blotting and various antibodies. The results indicated that only in the presence of detergents did heat pretreatment at >100°C allow the extensive enzymatic breakdown of PrP^Sc to a state where it is immunochemically
> undetectable. Proteinase K and 2 other subtilisin proteases, but not trypsin and pepsin, were also effective. This enzymatic process could lead to the development of a method for the decontamination of medical and laboratory equipment. The ultimate effectiveness of this method of prion inactivation has to be tested in mouse bioassays.



 

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Received on Wed Jan 07 2004 - 15:28:35 EST

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