Creighton University View Institution's Website 2 articles published in JoVE Immunology and Infection Essential Components of Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi In Vitro Transcription Assays William K. Boyle1, Hannah N. Sorensen1, Travis J. Bourret1 1School of Medicine, Creighton University In vitro transcription assays can decipher the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in Borreliella burgdorferi. This protocol describes the steps to purify B. burgdorferi RNA polymerase and perform in vitro transcription reactions. Experimental approaches using in vitro transcription assays require reliable purification and storage of active RNA polymerase. Immunology and Infection Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification of Prions Samuel E. Saunders1, Jason C. Bartz2, Ronald A. Shikiya2 1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) is an in vitro assay for the study of prion conversion and strain and species barriers. It can also be used as a prion detection assay.