Targeted/SRM-Cap Projects

"Identification of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and serum specific for neurological diseases in cattle"

Diseases can cause the release of molecules that are not normally present in a healthy animal. When such molecules are found in blood, urine or other body fluids, they are biomarkers (indicators) that an animal is diseased. Effective biomarkers are disease specific. When studying an animal disease, it is important to know that a particular biomarker is in fact an indicator of the disease in question and not some other infection or disease. In the case of BSE, especially in the early stages of infection, the concentration of infectious prion proteins that might show as a biomarker in body fluids is so small that it is very difficult to detect. This leads scientists to look for other biomarkers in these fluids. Dr. Marcus Czub and his team are looking for biomarkers for a number of non-prion neurological diseases. They will compare the biomarkers of non prion and prion diseases to develop an understanding of which biomarkers are specific for prion disease. Identifying these biomarkers could lead to the development of a BSE diagnostic test for live animals.

"Inventory expansion and appraisal of non-PrP biomarkers of TSE diseases"

In a previous stage of this project, Dr. Stefanie Czub and her team studied cattle urine to identify molecular biomarkers that would indicate the presence of BSE infection. Blind tests identified detectable quantities of a protein that may indeed be a biomarker for BSE. In the current phase of the project, additional tests will confirm that the protein is in fact specific to BSE and not to some other neurological disease or infection. Identifying a BSE-specific biomarker will make it possible to develop a diagnostic test for live animals: today, the only reliable tests to confirm BSE in cattle must be done post-mortem. Dr. Czub's study will also help to identify biomarkers of neurological conditions other than BSE and detect possible differences between the classical and the atypical forms of BSE. 

"Improving TSE mitigation through institutional analysis of response strategies: A comparative study of Alberta and Ontario, Canada"

Canada's governments and other social institutions have come under close public scrutiny in the wake of the BSE crisis. Was the response of these institutions appropriate in mitigating the risk of BSE and protecting society? Are there lessons to be learned from the responses leading up to and following the events of May 2003, when the first case of BSE was identified in Alberta? What factors influenced the nature of these responses? Dr. Davidson and her team will use document analysis, interviews and survey-based research to analyze the institutional factors underlying Canada's response to the BSE outbreak. Working with government representatives, scientific and financial agencies, industry groups and consumers, they will identify how particular institutional responses were selected and how these responses were perceived by beef producers, consumers and other members of society. They will also identify the impact of institutional responses in terms of disease mitigation and socio-economic consequences.

"Evaluating the role of bacterial lipopolysaccharides on the etiology and pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies"

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is present everywhere in nature. It is found in feces, guts and blood and in all non-sterile environments. Because LPS is so widespread and because its chemical properties are similar to those of prions, it may play a role in prion conversion, propagation or transmission. Preliminary studies suggest that LPS does indeed facilitate the spontaneous conversion of normal prion protein to a misfolded form. In this project, Dr. Burim Ametaj and his team will study the biochemical composition of scrapie-infected brain cells to determine if LPS is present and if the misfolded prions produced when LPS converts normal prions are infectious. This project is part of a larger study being conducted for the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.

"A parallel platform resource for measuring prion infectivity*"

In the context of the meat and livestock industry, the possible presence of prion infectivity in specified risk material (SRM) poses an enormous problem. Because prion disease can infect humans, SRMs cannot be safely disposed of unless the prions they contain have been inactivated. Prions cannot be destroyed by the conventional methods used to inactivate infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. Working with and researching prions requires specialized handling, storage and inactivation facilities and research areas where the potential contamination of laboratory instrumentation is not an obstacle for conducting experiments. Dr. David Westaway is developing a special facility where the effectiveness of various prion inactivation techniques can be tested. His research team will test for the presence of infectious prions in SRMs and other tissues that could pose public health risks or jeopardize trade and commerce.

*This project is partially funded by the SRM-CAP program.