Antibodies to prion and Acinetobacter peptide sequences in bovine spongiform encephalopathy

An amino acid sequence homology has been identified between the bovine prion sequence (RPVDQ) and the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus enzyme, uridine-diphosphate-N-acetyl glucosamine-1-carboxy-vinyl-transferase which also contains (RPVDQ). Class-specific IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies against synthetic peptides containing the structurally related sequences present in bovine prion and A. calcoaceticus were measured in 189 bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) positive cattle, 127 BSE negative cattle and 87 healthy control animals using an ELISA technique. Class-specific IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies against the structurally related synthetic peptides were significantly elevated in BSE positive cattle when compared to BSE negative cattle (P < 0.001) and healthy control animals (P < 0.001). These autoantibodies may have a role in the pathogenesis of BSE.