Researchers have detected a prion protein associated with CJD on the skin of almost two dozen people who died from the disease. The findings raise questions as to whether transmission of the disease via skin transplantation may be possible, and whether a simple skin test could detect the disease.
Researchers have successfully created a synthetic version of a human prion, a protein associated with brain wasting diseases like sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The prions may help shed new light on, and provide treatment options, for those with CJD and other prion related diseases.