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Prions discovered in unexpected organs

Nature (2005)Cite this article

Immune system helps BSE proteins spread through the body.

One assumption lies at the root of efforts to keep the meat we eat safe from mad cow disease: that tissues beyond an animal's brain, spinal cord and immune system are free of the prions that cause the disease.

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References

  1. Heikenwalder, M. et al. Science Published online: doi:10.1126/science.1106460 (2005).

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Authors
  1. Roxanne Khamsi
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Pathologist at Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland

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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Institute for Animal Health

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Khamsi, R. Prions discovered in unexpected organs. Nature (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/news050117-11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news050117-11

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