Inactivation of the bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy (BSE) agent by the acid and alkaline processes used in the manufacture of bone gelatine

Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 2004 Jun;39(Pt 3):329-38. doi: 10.1042/BA20030149.

Abstract

A validation study was carried out to determine the capacity of the traditional acid and alkaline processes used in the manufacture of bovine bone gelatine to remove and/or inactivate the transmissible agent that causes BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). Using an accurately scaled down laboratory process that precisely mimicked the minimum conditions of the industrial processes, gelatine (gelatin) was manufactured from industrial starting material that had been spiked with mouse brain infected with the 301V strain of mouse-passaged BSE agent. Clearance factors were determined by titrating the infectivity levels of the infected mouse brain tissue, the gelatine extracts, and the final sterilized gelatine solution. The infectivity level of the spiked starting material was 10(8.4) mouse intracerebral ID(50)/kg (ID(50) is the dose at which half of the challenged animals were infected). Clearance factors of 10(2.6) and 10(3.7) ID(50) were demonstrated for the first stages of the acid and alkaline processes respectively during which the bones are converted to crude gelatine. It was further demonstrated that the complete acid and alkaline processes both reduced infectivity to undetectable levels, giving clearance factors of >/=10(4.8) ID(50) for the acid process, and >/=10(4.9) ID(50) for the alkaline process.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acids / metabolism*
  • Acids / pharmacology
  • Alkalies / metabolism*
  • Alkalies / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones / chemistry*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Calcium Hydroxide / metabolism
  • Calcium Hydroxide / pharmacology
  • Cattle
  • Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / prevention & control
  • Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / transmission*
  • Filtration
  • Gelatin / chemistry*
  • Hydrochloric Acid / metabolism
  • Hydrochloric Acid / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Acids
  • Alkalies
  • Gelatin
  • Calcium Hydroxide
  • Hydrochloric Acid