RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Russo, Fabio A1 Johnson, Christopher J. A1 Johnson, Chad J. A1 McKenzie, Debbie A1 Aiken, Judd M. A1 Pedersen, Joel A.YR 2009 T1 Pathogenic prion protein is degraded by a manganese oxide mineral found in soils JF Journal of General Virology, VO 90 IS 1 SP 275 OP 280 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.003251-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Prions, the aetiological agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, exhibit extreme resistance to degradation. Soil can retain prion infectivity in the environment for years. Reactive soil components may, however, contribute to the inactivation of prions in soil. Members of the birnessite family of manganese oxides (MnO2) rank among the strongest natural oxidants in soils. Here, we report the abiotic degradation of pathogenic prion protein (PrPTSE) by a synthetic analogue of naturally occurring birnessite minerals. Aqueous MnO2 suspensions degraded the PrPTSE as evidenced by decreased immunoreactivity and diminished ability to seed protein misfolding cyclic amplification reactions. Birnessite-mediated PrPTSE degradation increased as a solution's pH decreased, consistent with the pH-dependence of the redox potential of MnO2. Exposure to 5.6 mg MnO2 ml−1 (PrPTSE : MnO2=1 : 110) decreased PrPTSE levels by ≥4 orders of magnitude. Manganese oxides may contribute to prion degradation in soil environments rich in these minerals., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.003251-0