SPR Biosensor as a Tool for Screening Prion Protein Binders as Potential Antiprion Leads

Prion diseases, also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a group of neurodegenerative disorders affecting animals and humans. No effective treatments are currently available for the diseases, vCJD in particular. It is believed that the formation of protease-resistant insoluble prion protein (PrP^Sc ), which is the main component of amyloidal deposits, from the cellular prion protein (PrP^C ), is essential for the progression of the disease. Therefore, both PrP^Sc and PrP^C are currently being used as potential drug targets.