Method for diagnosing encephalopathy, or the risk of developing it, useful particularly in screening cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, based on detecting specific nucleic acid markers

摘要

Method for detecting presence, or risk of developing, encephalopathy in mammals, from presence of specific markers. Method for detecting presence, or risk of developing, encephalopathy in mammals comprises determining, in a biological sample, at least one of the following targets: (a) nucleic acid (NA), i.e. any of 22 sequences reproduced, or their fragments with at least 5, preferably 6-10, consecutive bases; (b) the complements of (a); (c) functional analogs of NA or its complements, derived from another species or a natural variant; or (d) a polypeptide (PP) encoded by (a)-(c). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) product containing at least one NA, or its fragment, complement or functional analog, immobilized on a support; (2) product containing at least one PP encoded by NA, its fragments of at least 15 bases, complements or functional analogs; and (3) kits that contain NA, or its fragments, complements or functional analogs.