Re: Prion research and mad cow disease

["Tim Gwinn" <***>]

Hi James,

I agree that a biologically-based response seems pretty far away. I'm not
savvy enough in chemistry to say how resistance to being dissolved by
hydrochloric/sulphuric acid either does or does not say something
fundamental about the ability to use more specifically targeted chemical
means to dissolve, eradicate or render harmless these prions.

I did see a few somewhat encouraging article in Nature:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030303/030303-7.html
http://www.nature.com/nsu/031027/031027-10.html



Other items I found interesting:
These articles talk about prion folding and the relevant cellular machinery:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/990916/990916-2.html
http://www.nature.com/nsu/021014/021014-12.html

And apparently prions are found in fish, too:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030127/030127-12.html


Regards,
Tim

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ROSEN Forum [mailto:*** Behalf Of James N
> Rose
> Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 2:16 PM
> To: ***
> Subject: Re: Prion research and mad cow disease
>
>
> Judith/Tim,
>
> Judith, if your report of WHO 'sterilization' methods
> is accurate, then there is absolutely -no- opportunity
> for expunging the prion from the environment. Tim,
> your hope that a biologically successful response
> could be in the offing but will only take time, seems
> less than promising in the face of an organic unit
> that is impervious to hydrochloric/sulphuric acid
> deconstruction.
>
> Machiavellianly machinated efforts that priorotize
> monetary gain over all other considerations keeps
> getting this planet into a deeper and deeper catastrophic
> mire.
>
> The one thing that Life continues to re-prove is that
> no single priority-option can serve as dependable
> foundation forever.  Survival and endurance and evolution
> require that all options weigh on the scales no matter
> how trivial or seemingly insignificant.  Imbalanced
> 'coordination' leads to problems.
>
> Some might say, to desirable 'quantum shifts and leaps',
> but that is never a certainty.  What -is- certain is that
> dramatic transforms will get generated and that no safe
> niche exists in any guaranteed form.  Every one and everything
> is eventually vulnerable, even those organisms which
> think they are distanced enough to be immune.
>
> Life and evolution is built upon statistical opportunism,
> 'gambling', to be rather frank about it.  It is a core process
> of being and existence.  Unfortunately, humanity has take
> 'gambling on gambling' to some kid of perverted artform.
>
> Bets are unwisely biased on commercialism 'at all costs'
> as if fiduciary value were the only value and reality.
>
> Commerce is a communication/networking systems organizing
> process event, quite important in the sceme of things.  But
> it is not the only criteria and preferring it to all others
> is becoming dangerous to the planet under current conditions.
>
> Unfortunately, some people involved spin the effects to be
> desirable is some perverse immunizing self-justifying way.
>
> Eventually this planet will need to de-populate imbalanced
> overgrowth.  What more conscience salving way could there be
> than 'natural' biological vacuuming events?  Wars are too
> costly, take too much energy and physical/psychological
> resources.
>
> But, its all 'never mind' at this point.  The wheels are turning
> and efforts underway -- beyond the scope of timely reactions or
> change.
>
> The house of global commerce juggernauts on as if these
> events were only side-show time-limited diversions.  Maybe
> they are right. Maybe the juggernaut is like the enduring
> oceans, that rage and toil no matter the local interactions
> and changes and conflicts happening at ocean-shorelines interfaces.
> Inconsequential events, at the fringes of what is -- 'real'.
>
> James
> 12/27/03