Human Prion Diseases

1. Historical view Section I: Pathophysiology of prions2. The cellular and pathological prion protein3. Cell biology of prion infection4. Experimental models of human prion diseases and prion strains5. The role of the immune system in prion infection Section II: Animal prion diseases (clinical, epidemiology, neuropathological, biochemical, biomarker, and genotypes)6. Typical and atypical scrapie7. Typical and atypical BSE8. Chronic Wasting Disease Section III: Human prion diseases (clinical, epidemiology, neuropathological, biochemical, biomarker, and genotypes)9. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease10. Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy11. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease12. Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease13. Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease14. Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease15. Sporadic and fatal Familial Insomnia Section IV: Prion-like mechanisms in other neurodegenerative diseases16. Prion-like mechanisms in Alzheimer17. Prion-like mechanisms in Parkinson18. Prion-like mechanisms in ALS Section V: Diagnosis and treatment19. Prion protein amplification techniques20. Differential diagnosis with other rapid progressive dementias21. Symptomatic treatment, care and support of CJD patients22. Identifying therapeutic targets and treatment in model systems23. Vaccination strategies24. Clinical trials Section VI: Public health issues25. Animal diseases and the zoonotic potential26. Safety of blood, blood derivatives and plasma-derived products27. Safety in clinical practice28. Concluding thoughts