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Prions are protein matrices that self replicate. they are not alive and are not easily denatured using heat. Example = "mad cow disease"

These matrices can become quite large and cause inflammation and then necrotic areas in the body.

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16y ago
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11y ago

Prions are protein infections that cause folded proteins in neural tissues to be misfolded leading to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in mammals with symptoms of madness. In humans it is called Crentzfeldt-Jacob disease

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13y ago

There are a range of transmissible spongiform ensephalopathies that affect the brain or other neural tissue.

  • Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease)
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
  • Chronic wasting disease
  • Scrapie
  • Feline spongiform encephalopathy
  • Kuru
  • Fatal familial insomnia
  • Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome
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13y ago

Generally prions are able to transform normal proteins into the misfolded state through physical interaction. Much of how prions are created is a subject that is poorly understood by researchers.

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Q: What are prions and how do they cause diseases?
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What are ineffective proteins known as?

They are known as prions and cause many diseases such as Mad Cow Disease and Creutzfelt-Jacob disease.


What are viroids and prions?

I have no idea so go ask someone else. The similarities between viroids and prions are that both are acellular pathogens, and do not grow and they differ in the sense that prions do not have nucleic acids while viroids have the nucleic acid,RNA.


What are the infectious proteins with no nucleic acids called?

Prions are a misfolded protein and cause diseases. It can cause several central nervous system diseases including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Fatal Familial Insomnia and Kuru in humans. Spongiform Encephalopathy in cows, mink, and cats plus Scrapie in sheep.


What are importance of prions?

PrionsA prion is an infectious protein that is misfolded. These proteins can aggregate in the brain and other neural tissue, forming amyloids. Diseases associated with prions include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), scrapie, kuru, chronic wasting disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Prions are still poorly understood by researchers, and prion diseases (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) remain untreatable.


What is infectious diseases caused by?

"germs" -- bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and possibly prions


What incomplete viruses have been linked to diseases like scrapie and mad cow?

Prions.


Do prions have RNA?

No, prions aren't organisms or even organism imitators like viruses. Prions are misfolded proteins that can aggregate and cause serious neurological problems. See link below for more info about prions from Answers.com.


What is another name for prion disease?

A prion is a misfolded protein that is considered an infectious agent because they cause properly folded proteins to convert into the misfolded, prion form. In humans, prions cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In cattle, prions cause mad-cow disease.


How could prions multiply without nucleic acids?

Prions multiply by a process which is, at present, not fully understood. The protein PrPr is present in healthy cells of all mammals, in the brain and central nervous system. It is only when the gene that creates PrPr undergoes mutation that it begins to produce a harmful strain of PrPr, the prion. Prions replicate by causing the surrounding healthy proteins to fold abronmally, turning them into prions. These newly-formed prions in turn cause other proteins to fold abnormally. This process creates vacuoles in the cells of the brain, resulting in diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans, and Bovine Spongiform Enphysema in cows. Prions multiply by a process which is, at present, not fully understood. The protein PrPr is present in healthy cells of all mammals, in the brain and central nervous system. It is only when the gene that creates PrPr undergoes mutation that it begins to produce a harmful strain of PrPr, the prion. Prions replicate by causing the surrounding healthy proteins to fold abronmally, turning them into prions. These newly-formed prions in turn cause other proteins to fold abnormally. This process creates vacuoles in the cells of the brain, resulting in diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans, and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease)


What is prions?

PrionsA prion is an infectious protein that is misfolded. These proteins can aggregate in the brain and other neural tissue, forming amyloids. Diseases associated with prions include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), scrapie, kuru, chronic wasting disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Prions are still poorly understood by researchers, and prion diseases (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) remain untreatable.


Can you give me all the information known about Prions?

Prions • Proteinaceous infectious agents (PrP) • Prions are misfolded proteins Diseases caused by prions: • spongiform encephalopothies • BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, aka Mad Cow Disease) • CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) • kuru • scrapie in sheep Prions are only destroyed by: • incineration • autoclaving in 1N NaOH


Are prions worse than viruses because prions are virtually unstoppable?

All prion diseases are inevitably fatal; there are no known cures. You can inactivate them, not kill them. They are technically not alive. Think of them more like a substance, a protein to be exact.