Prions & BSE

[Giovanni Maga]

In article <DpHroq.2C0 at world.std.com>, rhc at world.std.com (Richard H
Clancey) wrote:

>         Prions never contained DNA or RNA by definition.  They are
> supposedly pathological forms of otherwise normal proteins which
> duplicate themselves endlessly.
> 
>It is still not known whether they are the causative agents of
> BSE and similar diseases, or whether they even exist at all.
> 


I guess these last two points have been clarified. See, among the most
recent, articles, the paper in Nature 1995 vol 378 pages 761-2 (with
commentary in the same issue page 759).
I think this  paper provides both evidence for the existence (well, it was
already well known anyway) and infectivity of prions. Moreover, it
addresses a few basic questions about species-specificity. A must for all
interested.
Regards, G. Maga.