A 43-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated for Progressive Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

A 43-year-old man is evaluated for progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms.  A year ago, he began feeling depressed and having hallucinations.  Five months later, he developed intermittent paresthesias and progressively worsening choreiform movements, myoclonus, and ataxia.  These symptoms have not improved despite multiple hospitalizations; an extensive workup has been unrevealing.  The patient is a slaughterhouse worker with extensive exposure to bovine offal.  As part of the evaluation for prion disease, a tissue sample digested with protease is processed via gel electrophoresis and transferred to filter paper.  Antibodies to a specific prion protein are added to the filter.  Next, a marked protein that combines with the antibody-protein complex is used to determine whether the test is positive.  Which of the following best describes this test?

A) Microarray
B) Northern blot
C) Southern blot
D) Southwestern blot
E) Western blot

Correct Answer:

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