Figure 8. PrP^res in PMCA reactions seeded with WBC or BC from a vCJD affected patients and healthy controls.

(A) WBCs from a French vCJD affected patient (vCJD-WBC) and healthy controls (H-WBC) were used to seed serial PMCA amplification (six rounds). PMCA controls included unseeded reactions (no seed). (B) Similarly, nine human buffy coat samples (received from the MRC Prion Unit (London, UK) were used to seed serial PMCA amplification (six rounds). The panel included three vCJD affected patients (sample 1, 3 and 8) and six healthy controls. A vCJD brain homogenate (10%, 10⁻⁸ diluted) was used as positive amplification control. In all cases brain homogenate from ovine PrP transgenic mice (ARQ variant) was used as substrate. PMCA products were analyzed by Western blot (WB) for the presence of abnormal PK resistant PrP (PrP^res -antibody Sha31 epitope YEDRYYRE). On each gel a classical scrapie isolate (PK digested) was used as positive control (WB control).