Mechanical Prion (IMAGE)

University of Pennsylvania

Mechanical Prion

Caption

An interdisciplinary team led by School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Lee C. Bassett and Dani Bassett, also of the School of Arts & Sciences, have studied the mechanical properties of prions, the mysterious shape-shifting proteins that are infamous for mad cow disease yet essential for yeast survival. Their findings could offer key insights into neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s diseases and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and pave the way for novel drug delivery systems.

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Mathieu Ouellett

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