Prion

A prion is a misfolded form of a normal protein found in the brain. Unlike other infectious agents like bacteria or viruses, prions lack genetic material but can induce normal proteins to also misfold. This process leads to the accumulation of abnormal proteins that damage brain tissue, causing diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. Prions are highly resistant to heat and conventional sterilization, making them difficult to eliminate. Their ability to spread through contaminated tissue or materials makes prion diseases particularly challenging to control and treat.