protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA)

A method for amplyfying PrPSc Indications: - prion disease Method: Brain tissue from an uninfected animal is mixed with tissue containing an aggregated form of infectious prions. The normal form is converted to the abnormal form making the aggregates grow larger. The aggregates are then sonicated to increase their surface area, enhaning their ability to mediate or seed further abnormal prion formation. Rounds of conversion & sonication are repeated several times.

References

C&E News June 18, 2001, pg 9 Nature 411:810, 2001