Developing methods for identifying the (food) risks associated with emerging prions responsible for Chronic Wasting Disease in Europe

The main objective of this project is to develop the first tools dedicated to European CWD prions, in terms of detection in tissues from infected animals and characterization of the risks for human health.

This relies on:

- the identification of PRNP polymorphisms potentially associated with genetic susceptibility / resistance to CWD in European cervid populations and of the relative capacity of the associated PrP protein to be converted into CWD prions,

- the development of transgenic mouse models expressing the PRNP polymorphisms associated with the highest susceptibility,

- the development of cell-free assays able to detect minute amounts of European CWD prions in tissues and fluids,

- the experimental modelling with humanized mouse models of the risk posed by European CWD prions for human.

• Project coordinator

Olivier Andreoletti

INRA ENVT UMR1225

23 Chemin des Capelles

BP 87614 31 076 

Toulouse Cedex 3 - France

Laboratory website

• Project Partner

• CNRGV implications: Reindeer BAC library construction and screening = identification of BAC clones carrying the PRNP polymorphisms and Optical map production

• CNRGV's responsible: Nathalie Rodde

• Funding: SA INRA department