Molecular and Cellular Biology of Prions

The general objective of the group is to advance the knowledge of diseases caused by prions, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). For this, three lines of research are being developed: i) development of bioassays for the detection and diagnosis of these diseases; ii) study of the elements involved in the replication and pathogenesis of prions and iii) study of the different prion strains in livestock species and their transmission capacity to humans (zoonotic potential). During the last 20 years, the group has developed and characterized a collection of transgenic mouse lines that express the prion protein (PrP) of different species of interest (human, bovine, porcine, ovine, cervid, among others). These transgenic mice constitute highly useful models for the study and characterization of prions both in vivo and in vitro.