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They contain only protein and no nucleic acids

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What is an infectious agent composed entirely of protein is called?

An infectious agent composed entirely of protein is called a prion. Prions are abnormal, misfolded proteins that can induce other normal proteins to misfold, leading to neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions do not contain nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), making them unique in their mechanism of infection.


What type of nucleic acid is in prions?

Prions do not contain nucleic acid. They are unique infectious proteins that can misfold and cause other proteins to misfold, leading to diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.


The only known infectious agents that lack genetic material are A. certain viruses. B. prions. C. viroids. D. none of the above D?

The only known infectious agents that lack genetic material are prions. Prions are misfolded proteins that can cause other proteins to misfold and aggregate, leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.


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.


Is mad cow disease an example of a prion?

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as BSE, or Mad Cow Disease, is an exact example of a proteinaceous infectious particle, or Prion. It is an infectious molecule composed primarily of protien, unlike viruses. BSE attacks the brain, it is a neurodegenerative disease causing a break down of the brain tissue and spinal cord.

Related Questions

What type of nucleic acid is in prions?

Prions do not contain nucleic acid. They are unique infectious proteins that can misfold and cause other proteins to misfold, leading to diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.


The only known infectious agents that lack genetic material are A. certain viruses. B. prions. C. viroids. D. none of the above D?

The only known infectious agents that lack genetic material are prions. Prions are misfolded proteins that can cause other proteins to misfold and aggregate, leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.


Is the flu a noninfectious diseases?

Influenza is a highly infectious disease, even when the patient is recovering (unlike many other Infectious Diseases which quit being infectious when the patient begins to recover).


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.


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.


Is mad cow disease an example of a prion?

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as BSE, or Mad Cow Disease, is an exact example of a proteinaceous infectious particle, or Prion. It is an infectious molecule composed primarily of protien, unlike viruses. BSE attacks the brain, it is a neurodegenerative disease causing a break down of the brain tissue and spinal cord.


What are the differences between infectious and non-infectious diseases?

An "infectious disease" an agent that can be passed from one living organism to another. A non-infectious disease is a disease or other condition that cannot be spread to another organism.


What one of these is an infectious protein?

They are called Prion. This is the definition I fount at wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn: "an infectious protein particle similar to a virus but lacking nucleic acid; thought to be the agent responsible for scrapie and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system".


What systems do prions affect?

Prions primarily affect the nervous system by causing misfolding of proteins, leading to neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. However, recent research shows that prions can also affect other cells and tissues in the body, impacting the immune system and possibly playing a role in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.


What is the meaning of infectious disease?

The disease which is spread from person to person is called infectious disease. For example flu is a viral disease through which the other person is infected from the patient


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 are the main features of Prions?

Prions are misfolded proteins that can induce other proteins to also misfold, leading to protein aggregates in the brain. They are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. Prions are highly resistant to conventional sterilization methods and can be transmitted through contaminated meat or other tissues.