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<ol> <LI> Identify thermal-stable marker proteins or peptides (TSMP) in each of the central nervous system tissues (CNS) including brain and spinal cord, and a potential risk material, blood, from cattle <LI> Develop species-specific monoclonal antibodies against each identified TSMP 3) Develop rapid enzyme immunoassays for detecting the presence of CNS tissues and blood in feedstuffs
Non-Technical Summary: In order to minimize animal exposure to feed products that could contain the infective agent of prion diseases, the FDA now proposes to ban the CNS tissues that are known to harbor the highest concentrations of the infectious agent for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in all animal feed, and possibly the use of bovine blood protein in animal feeds. However, no methods are currently available with which to detect any of these materials in excessively processed products and existing assays for CNS detection are not bovine-specific. The purpose of the proposed research is to develop rapid, tissue-specific and bovine-specific immunoassays for detecting the presence of any of the risk materials in unprocessed or excessively heat processed food and feed products. This is for the prevention and eradication of the spread of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. <P> Approach: The major difficulty in developing a suitable method has been related to the lack of appropriate species-specific and heat-stable biomarkers for antibody development. This project will first identify TSMPs as a suitable biomarker in each of the animal risk materials, including the brain and spinal cord, along with bovine blood; then species-specific Mabs against each identified biomarker will be developed. Suitable Mabs will be used to develop enzyme immunoassays for sensitive detection of the presence of bovine CNS tissues and blood. A validation process that involves an industrial partner will be conducted.