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U.S. biologists report finding a crucial role of proteins involved in the spread of prions -- an infectious particle that causes fatal brain diseases.

Brown University biologists have determined the protein Hsp104 must be present and active for prions to multiply and cause diseases, such as mad cow, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob and scrapie, a disease of sheep.

The scientists say their findings are exciting because they might reveal a way to control the spread of prions through drug intervention. If a drug could be made to inhibit the fragmentation process, it could substantially slow the spread of prions, according to assistant professor Tricia Serio.

Since similar protein replication occurs in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, such a drug might also slow progression of those maladies as well, according to the study published in the journal PLoS Biology.

Source: United Press International