Infectious Proteins
Infectious proteins, also known as prions, are abnormal versions of normal proteins found in the brain. Unlike viruses or bacteria, prions cause disease not by spreading through living organisms but by inducing normal proteins to fold incorrectly. This misfolding leads to brain damage and serious conditions like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans or mad cow disease in cattle. Prions are particularly resilient, surviving heat and disinfectants, making them difficult to eliminate once they have contaminated an area. They highlight a unique aspect of infectious diseases that does not involve traditional pathogens like bacteria or viruses.
Additional Insights
-
Infectious proteins, also known as prions, are misfolded proteins that can cause other normal proteins in the brain to also misfold. Unlike viruses or bacteria, prions do not contain genetic material like DNA or RNA. They lead to neurodegenerative diseases by accumulating and damaging brain tissue. Examples include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in cattle. Prions are notably resistant to standard sterilization methods, making them particularly concerning in terms of public health and safety. Their discovery has changed how we understand disease transmission and the role of proteins in health and illness.