Project Number: 5348-32000-026-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 09, 2002
End Date: May 01, 2007

Objective:
To develop control strategies for chronic wasting disease through the development of a transgenic mouse model.

Approach:
Transgenic mice will be developed using full-length genomic clones of the prion genes from both elk and white tail deer. A transgenic mouse model of chronic wasting disease is has the advantage of possessing a short incubation period for progression to disease. The approach will be to generate a full-length genomic clone of the prion genes, insert a NEO/loxP selection cassette into the mouse PrP.Xho plasmid to allow for positive selection of clones and ligate the genomic clone into the PrPXho/NEO plasmid. Constructs will be checked for fidelity by PCR and sequencing. The construction will be tested for expression in ES cells by electroporation followed by western blotting. Finally transgenic mice will be created by injection of embryos with selected ES cell clones. Founder pups will be selected from litters and backcrosses performed to eliminate genetic variability associated with background strains. Mice will then be tested for susceptibility to infection. The goal is to search for sites involved in prion conversion. BSL-1; 9-4-06. Documents SCA with Univ of Washington. Formerly 5348-32000-021-03S December 2006.