Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel human erythroid progenitor cell line, wherein at least 90% of the cells are CD36+ CD44?CD71+; and wherein the cells:—do not express the gene encoding the receptor of Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF-R gene) or express GM-CSF-R gene at a lower level than the cells of human UT-7/Epo-S1 cell line; and—express the gene encoding the receptor of erythropoietin (Epo-R gene). The present invention also concerns the uses thereof for producing, detecting, or quantifying parvovims B19. The present invention allows the use of the cell lines for 1) a highly sensitive B19 infectious particles detection, and, 2) the efficient production of infectious B19 particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro method for detecting and/or titrating an unconventional transmissible agent (UTA) or a protein of pathological conformation which is a marker for the infectivity of the UTA, in a sample, comprising a step of concentrating the sample before and after digestion with a protease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell clone derived from the MovS6 line, said cell clone expressing a prion protein PrP and being capable of tolerating the replication or propagation of the pathological form PrPsc of said PrP, characterized in that its titre with respect to marker for infection with a non-conventional transmissible agent (NCTA) is stable at least up to the 6th passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro method for the in vitro detection and/or titration of a non-conventional transmissible agent (NCTA) or of a protein of pathological conformation, which is a marker for infectiousness related to the NCTA, in a sample, comprising: replication or propagation, in cells in culture, of the NCTA present in the sample, and then repeated incubation with a substrate which allows amplification of the NCTA or of the protein of pathological conformation, nonpathological conformer of the NCTA, before determination of the presence and/or of the amount of the NCTA or of the protein of pathological conformation in the sample.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel, synthetic, standardised, soluble, reproducible and easy-to-handle infectious material of the prion type, consisting of a cell lysate or culture supernatant from stable transgenic cells expressing a prion protein PrP and supporting replication of the pathogenic form, PrPsc, of the said Prp.