Prions adhere to soil minerals and remain infectious.

摘要: An unidentified environmental reservoir of infectivity contributes to the natural transmission prion diseases (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies [TSEs]) in sheep, deer, and elk. Prion may enter soil environments via shedding from diseased animals decomposition infected carcasses. Burial TSE-infected cattle, deer as a means disposal has resulted unintentional introduction prions into subsurface environments. We examined potential for serve TSE by studying interaction disease-associated protein (PrPSc) with common minerals. In this study, we demonstrated substantial PrPSc adsorption two clay minerals, quartz, four whole samples. quantified PrPSc-binding capacities each mineral. Furthermore, observed that desorbed montmorillonite was cleaved at an N-terminal site between Mte strong, making desorption difficult. Despite cleavage avid binding, bound remained infectious. Results our study suggest released be preserved bioavailable form, perpetuating disease epizootics exposing other species infectious agent.