Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for typing a sample of a prion or spongiform encephalopathy disease, a kit suitable for use in such a typing method, a method for identifying infection in an animal and/or tissue of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a method for assessing and/or predicting the susceptibility of an animal to BSE, a kit for use in such an assessment and/or prediction method, a method for the treatment of a prion disease, and compounds suitable for such a method.

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 to 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 invention relates to methods and materials for use in the typing, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of prion disease.

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 invention relates to a method for the detection of prions in a sample comprising the steps of contacting one or more test animals with the sample; incubating the test animals; monitoring the test animals for adverse effects or death; and optionally performing a biopsy on the test animals that display adverse effects or death for evidence of prions; wherein the test animals have prion incubation times of 196 days or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for determining the presence of prions in a tissue/organ or fluid therefrom; said method comprising the steps of: contacting the tissue/organ with one or more devices, wherein said devices are capable of binding prions; removing said devices from contact with said tissue/organ; determining if said devices are binding prions wherein the device is contacted with the tissue/organ for 120 minutes.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for typing a sample of a prion or spongiform encephalopathy disease, a kit suitable for use in such a typing method, a method for identifying infection in an animal and/or tissue of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a method for assessing and/or predicting the susceptibility of an animal to BSE, a kit for use in such an assessment and/or prediction method, a method for the treatment of a prion disease, and compounds suitable for such a method.

Abstract: A method of automatically sequencing DNA comprises repeatedly determining the next base in the sequence as a function not only of a physical measurement made at that position, but also as a function of previously-determined near-by bases in the same sequence. Typically, a computer algorithm is used which predicts the value of the expected measurement at a given position based upon a knowledge of the bases in previous and/or subsequent positions. The predicted measurement is then compared with the actual measurement, and the base chosen at that position is the base which minimizes the accumulated error measure for the entire sequence. The preferred algorithm, which may be parallel or sequential, preferably includes physical modelling of the replication effect and of the fluorescence effect.