Genotype frequencies at codon 129 of the Prion Protein Gene in Brazil: implications in susceptibility to variant Creutzfeldt--Jakob disease compared to European and Asian populations

A polymorphism at codon 129 of the prion protein gene has been shown to confer genetic susceptibility to prion diseases, and to influence the epidemic course of variant Creutzfeldt--Jakob disease. We employed a PCR-endonuclease digestion-based assay to investigate this genetic trait in Brazil, and then compared our results to previously published data from several European and Asian countries.Financial Support: Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo -- FAPESP