Figure 1
From: Ticks harbor and excrete chronic wasting disease prions
Recovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions (PrPCWD) from spiking and membrane feeding experiments for analysis using the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay. Comparison of amyloid formation rates (AFR) by RT-QuIC of (a–c) defibrinated bovine whole blood spiked with a 10–3 dilution of the same 10% brain homogenate as used for the brain dilution series, and artificial membrane-fed tick homogenates spiked in the same manner as the blood (“b” and “c” depict AFRs of all 8 technical replicates for spiked whole blood or tick homogenates averaged in “a”) or (d) tenfold dilutions of 10% brain homogenate (BH) (from the obex region) from a CWD-positive white-tailed deer. Membrane feeding units were constructed using (e) cured silicon membranes adhered to the base of (f) assembled feeding chambers. (g) Depiction of the assembled feeding unit with feeding chambers being held upright by the chamber supports. (h-j) Comparison of AFRs by RT-QuIC of homogenates from membrane-fed PrPCWD exposed or negative control ticks and tick frass (“i “and “j” depict AFRs for all 24 technical replicates (from 3 biological replicates run on 3 separate plates) for frass or membrane-fed tick homogenates averaged in “h”). Negative controls (NC) in each AFR plot are representative for the same sample type.
