CONTEXT

Prions are infectous proteins responsible for certain neuro-degenerative diseases of spongiform encephalopathy type in mammals, such us Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease in humans or also the so-called ‘mad cow disease’ in bovines. These infectious agents do not contain nucleic acids, in difference with others traditional agents (bacteria, viruses for example). Several research teams disclose tests for detecting molecules with anti-prion activity. These tests, carried out on a mammel model or on rodents, do not allow performing high-throughput screening because of limited safety conditions (P3 laboratory) and cell culture conditions (significant handling). There stills a greet need for an efficiency test of screening for the identification of drugs against prion-derived diseases.