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Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) is an amplification technique (like PCR) to multiply misfolded prions. It is a test for spongiform encephalopathies like BSE. The technique initially incubates a small amount of abnormal prion with an excess of normal protein, so that some conversion takes place. The growing chain of misfolded protein is then blasted with ultrasound, breaking it down into smaller chains and so rapidly increasing the amount of abnormal protein available to cause conversions. By repeating the cycle, the mass of normal protein is rapidly changed into misfolded prion.
