In vitro model for priocidal activity

Abstract

A proteinaceous material has been found to show similar activity and treatment response to that of disease causing prions, such as CJD. A prion model which incorporates the proteinaceous material has a variety of applications. The model has an ability to be cultured either in vivo or in vitro, allowing rapid screening of potential drugs for treating animals or humans, or methods of treating food products or items which may come into contact with prions, such as medical or dental devices. Several treatment methods and materials have been developed using the model.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method of treating an item which may be contaminated with prions, the method comprising: 
 treating the item with a composition which includes at least one of nisin, manganese, and silver nitrate to reduce the level of viable prions on the item.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the item includes a food product for animal or human consumption.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the item includes a medical or dental device.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition has been found to be effective at attacking an IFDO.  
   
   
       16 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A method of treating a subject having a prion related disease comprising: 
 treating a sample contaminated with an IFDO with a proposed treatment agent, the IFDO having been shown to respond to other treatment agents in a similar manner to the prion;    if the treatment agent is effective at attacking the IFDO, treating the subject with the treatment agent.    
   
   
       21 . A method for treating an item for prion contamination, the method comprising: 
 exposing a prion model comprising an ileal fluid dependent organism in vitro to one or more proposed chemicals or processes;    culturing remaining prion model in vitro including growing the remaining prion model in a culture medium;    evaluating the culture medium for activity of the chemical or process against prions; and    treating the potentially prion contaminated item with one or more of the chemicals or processes which have been evaluated for activity against the prion model.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treating step includes: 
 applying one of the chemicals which has been evaluated as showing activity against the prion model to a surface of the item.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the item is an inanimate object.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the item is an animate object and the chemical is applied to a tissue surface.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein the tissue surface includes a skin surface.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the culture medium includes hemoglobin and the step of evaluating for activity against the prion model includes observing a change in color of the culture medium as an indication of the amount of prion model remaining.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the chemical includes a drug and further including: 
 performing additional tests for efficacy of the drug and safety to humans or animals.    
   
   
       28 . A method of treating an item which may be contaminated with prions, the method comprising: 
 treating the item with a composition that has been evaluated to have activity against prions, which composition has been evaluated by contacting a substrate to which a prion model has been applied with the composition and evaluating in vitro the activity of the composition as an indicator of activity against prions.    
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the prion model includes an ileal fluid dependent organism.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the composition is an oxidizing agent.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the evaluating step includes: 
 culturing the ileal fluid dependent organism on the substrate in a growth medium; and,    detecting growth of the ileal fluid dependent organism.    
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein detecting includes: 
 subjecting the cultured ileal fluid dependent organism to a procedure which detects proteins.    
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein evaluating includes culturing the prion model in a media which contains hemoglobin and observing a change in color of the media as an indication of an amount of the prion model emaining.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein treating the item includes applying the candidate composition to a surface of biological tissue.