Researchers may have uncovered a clue that could help treat a family of rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders that includes CJD, which is closely linked to Mad Cow Disease.

Prion diseases can develop when a naturally occurring brain prion protein PrP comes into contact with infectious prions, eventually causing brain cells to die.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool (UK) used x-ray crystallography technology to build a 3D picture of the binding between an antibody called ICSM18, which is designed to 'stick' to prion proteins, and PrP cells.

"Significantly we found that the point at which the protein and antibody came together was also where scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit at University College London (UK) had identified a single amino acid, which we now know has a significant impact on a patient's susceptibility to prion disease," says Samar Hasnain, a professor at the University of Liverpool.

The scientists at the MRC Prion Unit, who collaborated on the research, have found that ICSM18 could help prevent brain cells from becoming infected, as well as reverse early damage caused by the disease.

"We have shown that ICSM18 has the highest therapeutic potential in animal and cell-based studies, but we have yet to establish its impact on people who have variant CJD or other prion diseases," says John Collinge. "However, we are currently working to make human versions of the antibodies for future trials in people."

www.liv.ac.uk