Identification of circulating microRNA signatures as potential biomarkers in the serum of elk infected with chronic wasting disease. Identification of circulating microRNA signatures as potential biomarkers in the serum of elk infected with chronic wasting disease

Purpose: Idenfication of microRNA biomarkers of Chronic wasting disease in serum from infected elk Methods: Illumina next generation was used to profile abundance of serum miRNA in elk naturally infected with chronic wasting disease and Hamsters experimentally infected with the 263K scrapie prion strains Results: A signature of 21 miRNAs with diagnostic potential was found to be altered in abundance in serum from CWD infected elk. Of these, 6 were similarily altered in the serum from the 263K infected hamsters Conclusion: These altered miRNA signatures may serve as the basis for non-invasive diagnostic assays for chronic wasting disease and may shed light on the pathogenesis of prion infection Overall design: Serum miRNA was profiled in prion infected elk and hamsters using illumina next generation sequencing