TSE Feature | Explanation afforded by RuNAway |
---|---|
Endogenous origin of TSE | SINEs are endogenous |
TSE Agent becomes infectious | TSE causing SINE is mutated for enhanced replication |
 | and virulence |
Long latency | RT-mediated SINE gene proliferation is a slow |
 | process. Spreading between cells is much less efficient |
 | than viral infection |
Shorter visible disease period | Transition to aggressive second RuNAway cycle |
Inheritance of TSE strain | SINEs are nucleic acid and obey the laws of genetics |
variation | and inheritance |
Species barrier to infection | Adaptation to new RNA primer sequence required in |
 | new host species |
Absence of immune reaction | SINEs are nucleic acid and therefore not immunogenic |
PrP protein required for | When overproduced, PrP protein is prone to form |
pathology | aggregates which damage neighbouring cells |
Agent causes PrPSc precipitation | SINEs can inhibit PKR a negative regulator of |
 | translation, leading to overproduction of PrP protein |
 | and deposition of amyloid plaques |
PrP0/0 mouse does not succumb | PrP0/0 mouse is infected by scrapie SINEs but without |
to scrapie | PrP expression no amyloid plaques can form |
PrP0/0 mouse transmits scrapie | TSE SINE replicates in PrP0/0 mouse cells |
agent | Â |
PrP0/0 mouse transmits scrapie | TSE SINE replication is dependent on SINE RNA |
agent less efficiently than | synthesis which is not stress-induced in the absence of |
wildtype mouse | second RuNAway cycle |