Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) purportedly caused by prions. Studies by other research groups have elucidated key contact sites on normal cellular prion protein that are needed for duplication of the abnormal, disease-causing prion form. When these sites are blocked with antibodies, the course of the disease may be altered. We are investigating vaccines that include peptide sequences found within these sites that may be used to elicit a protective, active immune response. These vaccines tested in rabbits have elicited an antibody response. The next phase of research will investigate vaccine efficacy in the face of disease challenge using a mouse scrapie model.