Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are slowly progressive and fatal
neurodegenerative diseases affecting man and animals. They are caused by pathological
isoforms (PrPSc) of the host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrPC). There are two crucial
factors for the initiation of infection, namely host cells PrPC expression and sufficient
sequence homology between the PrPSc to which the animal is exposed and its own PrPC.
In acquired TSEs, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the main prion entry site. Hence, it is of …