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FRIMEDBIO-Fri prosj.st. med.,helse,biol

Chronic wasting disease prions from Norwegian cervids: Assessing the pathogenesis, shedding, spillover and zoonotic potential

Alternative title: Skrantesjuke (CWD) prioner fra norske hjortedyr: patogenese, utskillelse, smittepotensial til andre arter og til mennesker

Awarded: NOK 9.6 mill.

The persistent contagious transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions continues to threaten the survival of cervid populations in North America, and their uncertain zoonotic potential raises concerns for public health. Since the first case of CWD in Norwegian reindeer and moose in 2016, the disease is found in several Norwegian regions and Nordic countries. Our recent collaborations with key partners in this proposal have identified multiple CWD strains in Norwegian reindeer, moose and red deer. Of particular importance, these strains are unrelated to those currently present in North America. These findings have clear implications for the future management of these emerging European prions. With the strong and complementary skills and expertise of the consortium, this ambitious project will combine live animal experiments in reindeer and mice models, in addition to in vitro experiments with the most recent and sensitive technologies (RT-QuIC, PMCA) and a potential field-deployable test, the Minnesota-QuiC test (MN-QuiC). The potential of CWD strains for spreading among cervids and for infecting new animal species, including humans, essentially depends on two main factors: the level of EXPOSURE to CWD infectivity and the intrinsic SUSCEPTIBILITY of the EXPOSED SPECIES to the different CWD strains. EmergingCWD aims at addressing both sides of this issue. It will provide a new understanding of how the emerging CWD prions identified in Norway can spread both within and between host species. Being different from most known infectious agents like viruses and bacteria, knowledge about prions, their infectiousness, and their transmission mechanisms continues to lag behind. Given the possible dramatic consequences of prion-related disease, this project will represent a decisive input to close this knowledge gap of relevance to both Norway and the international scientific community.

The inexorable contagious transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions continues to threaten the survival of cervid populations in North America, and their uncertain zoonotic potential raises concerns for public health. Since the first case of CWD in Norwegian reindeer and moose in 2016, the disease is found in several Norwegian regions and Nordic countries. Our recent collaborations with key partners in this proposal have identified multiple CWD strains in Norwegian reindeer, moose and red deer. Of particular importance, these strains are unrelated to those currently sustaining the North American epidemic. These findings have clear implications for the future management of these emerging European prions. With the strong and complementary skills and expertise of the consortium and the unprecedented resources it represents, this ambitious project will combine live animal experiments in reindeer and mice models, in addition to in vitro experiments with the most recent and sensitive technologies (RT-QuIC, PMCA) and a potential field-deployable test, the Minnesota-QuiC test (MN-QuiC). The potential of CWD strains for spreading among cervids and for infecting new animal species, including humans, essentially depends on two main factors: the level of EXPOSURE to CWD infectivity and the intrinsic SUSCEPTIBILITY of the EXPOSED SPECIES to the different CWD strains. EmergingCWD aims at addressing both sides of this issue. It will provide a new understanding of how the emerging CWD prions identified in Norway can spread both within and between host species. Being different from most known infectious agents like viruses and bacteria, knowledge about prions, their infectiousness, and their transmission mechanisms continues to lag behind. Given the possible dramatic consequences of prion-related disease, this project will represent a decisive input to close this knowledge gap of relevance to both Norway and the international scientific community.

Funding scheme:

FRIMEDBIO-Fri prosj.st. med.,helse,biol

Funding Sources

Thematic Areas and Topics

Politikk- og forvaltningsområderMiljø, klima og naturforvaltningBioteknologiPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderSkog, landbruk og matPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderKommunal-, distrikt- og regionalforvaltningInternasjonaliseringInternasjonalt prosjektsamarbeidFNs BærekraftsmålMål 11 Bærekraftig byer og samfunnPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderHelse og omsorgLTP3 Kultur, sivilsamfunn og medienes rolleLTP3 Samfunnsikkerhet, sårbarhet og konfliktFNs BærekraftsmålMål 15 Liv på landFNs BærekraftsmålMål 2 Utrydde sultLTP3 Tillit og fellesskapPortefølje Klima og miljøFNs BærekraftsmålMål 3 God helsePortefølje Samisk samfunn og kulturInternasjonaliseringPortefølje Muliggjørende teknologierSamiskBioteknologiMedisinsk bioteknologiLTP3 HelseFNs BærekraftsmålLTP3 Klima, polar og miljøHelseLTP3 Muliggjørende og industrielle teknologierLandbrukMatMat - Grønn sektorLTP3 Nano-, bioteknologi og teknologikonvergensLTP3 Samfunnssikkerhet og beredskapLTP3 Høy kvalitet og tilgjengelighetNaturmangfold og miljøTerrestrisk naturmangfold, økosystemer og økosystemtjenesterMatTrygg verdikjedePortefølje HelsePortefølje Banebrytende forskningLTP3 Bioøkonomi og forvaltningNaturmangfold og miljøBioøkonomiPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderForskningBransjer og næringerLandbrukPortefølje Mat og bioressurserBioøkonomiSektorovergripende bioøkonomiGrunnforskningBransjer og næringerLandbrukHusdyrLTP3 Et kunnskapsintensivt næringsliv i hele landetLTP3 Fagmiljøer og talenterLTP3 Klima, miljø og energiLTP3 Styrket konkurransekraft og innovasjonsevnePortefølje ForskningssystemetMat