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The Use of Transgenic and Knockout Mice in Prion Research

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Prion Diseases

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 129))

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Abstract

Despite several decades since the identification of the prion protein (PrP), we still do not know the full extent of its normal function or its role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. The production of transgenic mice both devoid of PrP and expressing different forms of PrP have enabled us to study the role of PrP in health and disease. Transgenic models expressing different forms of PrP allow us to define the role of PrP disease susceptibility, model disease transmission both within and between species, and understand the impact of PrP mutations on the species barrier. Knockout or PrP null mice have been utilized in discovering the normal functions of PrP and have led to the development of large animal models devoid of PrP. This chapter will outline the role that transgenic mice play in the study of prion diseases and the insights they have provided into the normal function of PrP and its role in prion disease susceptibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK

    Abigail B. Diack & Jean C. Manson

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  1. Abigail B. Diack
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  2. Jean C. Manson
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Correspondence to Abigail B. Diack .

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  1. Department of Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Pawel P. Liberski

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Diack, A.B., Manson, J.C. (2017). The Use of Transgenic and Knockout Mice in Prion Research. In: Liberski, P. (eds) Prion Diseases. Neuromethods, vol 129. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7211-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7211-1_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7209-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7211-1

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