Development of Methods for the Real-Time and Rapid Identification and Detection of TSE in Living Animals Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy of the Eye; Annual rept. 16 Jun 2005-15 Jun 2006

摘要

Year three of the project the current reporting period, has shown considerable progress. Our preliminary investigations so far suggest that the most promising part of the eye for revealing spectroscopic signatures of neurological disease is the retina. Our experiments have so far been limited to sheep. Our experiments have been designed to address the following questions: (1) Can ocular spectra be diagnostic of neurological disease; (2) Can the effects of neurological disease be separated from those associated with normal aging; (3) Can images of the eye be obtained that report on neurological disease; Our results indicate that we can answer all three questions in the affirmative.