X-Message-Number: 22246
From: 
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:36:38 EDT
Subject: Re: CryoNet #22240 Inquiry about prions

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From  Francois:

> First, most protein based foods are cooked,
> which denatures proteins. Then, the consumed proteins are digested and
> broken down to their constituant amino acids. Third, those proteins that
> escape digestion will no easily go throught the gut's lining and enter the
> blood stream. And fourth, even if some protein molecules manage to get into
> the blood, the brain blood barrier will not allow them through. In view of
> all those obstacles, I find it remarkable that prion based desease can be so
> easily transmitted.

1/Prions are very stable, and usual cooking temperature can't destroy them, 
Only kilns can destroy them.

2/ A way to use protein drugs is to eat them with some chicken peas: They 
block the digestive process and let the protein undigested. Surely, many other 
products do the same with more or less efficiency.


3/ Many things go to the blood, a simple example is given by the carotenoids 
used as "chemical sun tan".

4/ No barrier is 100% efficient, if it works 99.99999999 % , one molecule in 
ten billions will pass and the catalytic property of prions will produce an 

exponential growth. After 33 doubling times, there will be 8 billions molecules
and so everything will be as if there was no brain blood barrier at all. The 
barrier produces a delay in the infection process but it can't stop it.

Yvan Bozzonetti.

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