Prion (PrPSc)-specific epitope defined by a monoclonal antibody

Research shows that the monoclonal antibody 15B3 recognizes disease-specific forms of the ubiquitous cellular prion protein PrP(super C). Scientists believe that 15B3 will be useful in establishing a technique to diagnose transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are hard to diagnose using current techniques. The PrP(super Sc)-specific epitope molecule is described.