Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a ?-form of a prion protein which preferably has more ?-sheet than ?-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the ?-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native ?-form of a prion protein to a ?-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a ?-form of a prion protein which preferably has more ?-sheet than ?-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the ?-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native ?-form of a prion protein to a ?-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of determining the susceptibility of a subject to prion disease comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample from said subject and in determining the human leucocyte antigen specificity of said sample, wherein if said sample has DQ7 human leucocyte antigen specificity, this indicates that said subject has a decreased susceptibility to prion disease, and if said sample does not have DQ7 human leucocyte antigen specificity, this indicates that said subject has an increased susceptibility to prion disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a &bgr;-form of a prion protein which preferably has more &bgr;-sheet than &agr;-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the &bgr;-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native &agr;-form of a prion protein to a &bgr;-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a &bgr;-form of a prion protein which preferably has more &bgr;-sheet than &agr;-helix structure and is soluble in the absence of a denaturant and/or is non-aggregated and exhibits partial resistance to digestion with proteinase K. The invention also relates to use of the &bgr;-form in medicine, especially for raising antibodies useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of prion diseases. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds which are capable of inhibiting and/or reversing the conversion of the native &agr;-form of a prion protein to a &bgr;-form, and to uses of identified compounds in medicine.