NR AWSM
AU Walker,L.C.; Levine,H.; Jucker,M.
TI Koch's postulates and infectious proteins
QU Acta Neuropathologica 2006 Jul; 112(1): 1-4
PT journal article; research support, n.i.h., extramural; research support, non-u.s. gov't; review
AB Koch's postulates were formulated in the late nineteenth century as guidelines for establishing that microbes cause specific diseases. Because the rules were developed for living agents - particularly bacteria - their applicability to inanimate pathogens such as viruses and infectious proteins has been problematic. The unorthodox mechanism by which prion diseases are transmitted, involving specific physicochemical characteristics of the protein as well as susceptibility traits of the host, has made these disorders refractory to analysis within the context of the original Koch's postulates. In addition, evidence is accumulating that other proteopathies, such as AA amyloidosis, apolipoprotein AII amyloidosis, and cerebral Abeta amyloidosis, can be induced in vulnerable recipients by cognate proteinaceous agents. In light of the salient differences in the mode of disease-transmission by microbes and proteins, we propose modifications of Koch's postulates that will specifically accommodate presumed infectious proteins.
ZR 47
MH Animals; Humans; Prion Diseases/*transmission; Prions/*physiology
AD Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. lary.walker@emory.edu
SP englisch
PO Deutschland