Figure 1.

Western blot analysis of cell lysates of huMM129 glia infected with vCJD (A) or sCJD-MM2 prions (B). 3 × 10⁴ cells/well were challenged with 10 µL of 1% brain homogenate (w/v) for 3 days. Cells were lysed at 3 days post exposure (3 dpe) and at the indicated time points. Empty lanes at 30, 60 and 90 dpe indicate that no original inoculum was present any more in the glia cell culture. From 120 dpe onwards, propagation of non-residual PrP^Sc can be detected. Addition of Pierce^TM Protein Transfection Reagent (P^TMPTR) to the original inoculum results in enhanced propagation of sCJD-MM2 prions but shows no effect for vCJD prions (n = 2; representative Western blots shown). At 180 dpe, this effect disappears again. Positive control: 10% homogenate (w/v) of 263K-infected hamster brain, diluted 1:1000. Anti-PrP antibody 3F4 used at 1:2000.