Two Northern California residents were recently diagnosed as having a type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease that is sometimes associated with mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The following 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis experts are available to answer questions about mad cow and associated diseases.
Diseases caused by prion proteins
Christina Sigurdson is an assistant professor in the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, based at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ San Diego as part of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Veterinary Medical Center - San Diego. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of a group of diseases, including BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which are caused by proteins called prions. She studies the genetic and the environmental factors that influence prion transmission. Contact: Christina Sigurdson, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏVMC - SD, (858) 534-0978,
Media Resources
Pat Bailey, Research news (emphasis: agricultural and nutritional sciences, and veterinary medicine), 530-219-9640, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu