OVERVIEW

Overview of Prion Diseases is organized by MediaLab, Inc.

Course description:
This course includes an overview of the function of prion proteins and the differing theories as to how prions cause several different neurodegenerative diseases. The causes and symptoms of the four types of infectious and classical prion diseases will be explored, as well as the recommendations for safe handling of blood and body fluid specimens from individuals infected with prion diseases.

Objectives:
• Differentiate between prion proteins and prions.
• Discuss the function of prion proteins and explain how prions effectuate several neurodegenerative diseases.
• List several theories advocating causes for prion infections.
• Discuss the causes and symptoms of the four types of infectious prion diseases and four types of classical prion diseases.
• Restate the World Health Organization’s clinical laboratory recommendations for the handling of blood and body fluid specimens from individuals infected with prion diseases.

Course Outline
• What are Prions?
• Prion Proteins
• Prions
• Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)
• Theories Regarding Prion Infection
• Research
• Theories
• Hypothesis
• Multi-component Hypothesis
• Symptoms and Histopathology of Prion Disease
• How do prions kill?
• Hypotheses and Theories on the Killing Mechanisms of Prions
• Amyloid Fibers and Glial Cells
• Signs and Symptoms of Prion Disease
• Summary of Both Human and Non-human Prion Diseases
• Summary of Both Human and Non-human Prion Disease Forms: Major Neuropathological Features and Etiology
• Infectious Prion Diseases
• Scrapie
• Clinical Presentation: Scrapie
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)/Mad Cow Disease
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)/Mad Cow Disease: Statistics
• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD): Clinical Presentation and Relationship to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD): Statistics and Prevention
• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD): Safeguards
• Other Human Prion Diseases
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): Sporadic Versus Iatrogenic
• Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)
• Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI): Clinical Presentation
• Kuru
• Clinical Presentation: Kuru
• Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Disease (GSS)
• Prion Diseases and Prion Concentration
• Laboratory Safety
• Safety Precautions
• Infection Control Strategies
• Autopsy in Suspected or Known Cases of Prion Disease
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis
• Final Thoughts
• References
• References