D-gen Limited

Anthony R Clarke

John Collinge

Graham Stuart Jackson

The present invention relates to a method of making a &#x3b2;-form of a prion protein which preferably has more &#x3b2;-sheet than &#x3b1;-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the &#x3b2;-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native &#x3b1;-form of a prion protein to a &#x3b2;-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.

Biological materials and methods useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases

The present invention relates to a method of making a &bgr;-form of a prion protein which preferably has more &bgr;-sheet than &agr;-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the &bgr;-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native &agr;-form of a prion protein to a &bgr;-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.

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London, United Kingdom

Anthony R Clarke