PLOS Pathogens
Published November 29, 2018 (News release from PLOS)
Researchers tested the role of a major soil organic matter compound, humic acid, for its ability to bind chronic wasting disease prions and impact infectivity. They found incubating the prions with high humic-acid concentrations decreased prion signal and infectivity in mice. Chronic wasting disease is fatal prion disease that infects the brains of free-ranging deer, moose, elk and reindeer. It is found across North America and has been confirmed in northern Europe.
Corresponding author: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta – judd.aiken@ualberta.ca