[Molecular biology of subacute spongiform encephalitis].

Subacute spongiform encephalitis is a pathology that is common to 4 human and 4 animal diseases. These diseases are characterized by the neurological lesions they share and by the fact that they can be transmitted to animals. An abnormal isoform of an endogenous central nervous system protein has been identified. It might be the sole pathogenic agent, but it is certain that it plays a major role in the expressivity of the disease.