Figure 5. Western immnoblot for PrP^res, using monoclonal antibody 2A11, of brain homogenate from initial titration experiment to determine the feasibility and sensitivity of serial protein misfolding cyclical amplification (sPMCA) using cattle brain homogenate for the detection of BSE agent in tissues from European red deer.

Brain tissue from the single European red deer that developed clinical signs (009) used. Note the presence of PrP^res at a dilution of 10⁻¹¹ after only three rounds of sPMCA showing exceptional sensitivity and complete lack of PrP^res in negative control samples showing lack of spontaneous conversion of PrP^C to PrP^res. Dil = dilution, PK = proteinase-K treated (+) or not (−), MW = molecular weight markers.