PrPSc level and incubation time in a transgenic mouse model expressing Borna disease virus phosphoprotein after intracerebral prion infection

Our previous studies have shown that the persistent expression of Borna disease virus phosphoprotein (BDV P) in mice leads to behavioral abnormalities resembling those in BDV-infected animals. In this study, we investigated whether the neurobehavioral abnormalities genetically induced by BDV P influence experimental prion disease. The effect of the phosphoprotein on prion diseases was evaluated based on the incubation time and survival curve, as well as the abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc) levels in brains of BDV P Tg mice treated with proteinase K (PK) treatment and subjected to western blotting. Increased expression of the BDV P transgene had no effect on the PrPSc level, incubation time, or survival curve. The abnormalities induced by BDV P are different from those induced by prion diseases, indicating that the signaling cascades induced by the phosphoprotein differ from those induced by prion diseases.