Humic substances interfere with detection of pathogenic prion protein
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
By: Christen B. Smith, Clarissa J. Booth, Tyler J. Wadzinski, Giuseppe Legname, Rick Chappell, Christopher J. Johnson, and Joel A. Pedersen
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Abstract
Studies examining the persistence of prions (the etiological agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) in soil require accurate quantification of pathogenic prion protein (PrPTSE) extracted from or in the presence of soil particles. Here, we demonstrate that natural organic matter (NOM) in soil impacts PrPTSE detection by immunoblotting. Methods commonly used to extract PrPTSE from soils release substantial amounts of NOM, and NOM inhibited PrPTSE immunoblot signal. The degree of immunoblot interference increased with increasing NOM concentration and decreasing NOM polarity. Humic substances affected immunoblot detection of prion protein from both deer and hamsters. We also establish that after interaction with humic acid, PrPTSE remains infectious to hamsters inoculated intracerebrally, and humic acid appeared to slow disease progression. These results provide evidence for interactions between PrPTSE and humic substances that influence both accurate measurement of PrPTSE in soil and disease transmission.
Suggested Citation
Smith, C.B., Booth, C.J., Wadzinski, T.J., Legname, G., Chappell, R., Johnson, C.J., and Pedersen, J.A., 2014, Humic substances interfere with detection of pathogenic prion protein: Soil Biology and Biochemistry, v. 68, p. 309-316, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.10.005.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Humic substances interfere with detection of pathogenic prion protein |
| Series title | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.10.005 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
| First page | 309 |
| Last page | 316 |