infectious protein theory

The infectious protein theory suggests that certain diseases, like mad cow disease and some types of neurodegenerative disorders, are caused by misfolded proteins—proteins that fold incorrectly. These abnormal proteins can spread from cell to cell, inducing normal proteins to also misfold, leading to damage in tissues, especially the brain. Unlike pathogens like bacteria or viruses, these proteins do not contain genetic material and are not alive. Instead, they act like infectious agents through protein misfolding, propagating disease without traditional infection methods.