Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal, incurable degenerative diseases of the brain transmitted by prions. Mental and physical abilities deteriorate and myriad tiny holes appear in the cortex causing it to appear like a sponge (hence 'spongiform') when brain tissue obtained at autopsy is examined under a microscope.

References

• This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/tse.htm
• Brown P, et al (2000). Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease at the millennium. Neurology 55 (8), 1075-1081 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11071481&query_hl=6
• Collinge J (2001). Prion diseases of humans and animals: their causes and molecular basis. Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 24, 519-550 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11283320&query_hl=8
• Collins S, et al (2001). Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, Fatal familial insomnia, and kuru: a review of these less common human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. J. Clin. Neurosci. 8 (5), 387-397 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11535002&query_hl=10
• Jeffery M, Goodbrand IA, Goodsir CM (1995). Pathology of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies with special emphasis on ultrastructure. Micron 26 (3), 277-298 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7788281&query_hl=19