research papers on prions

Research on prions focuses on understanding infectious proteins that cause certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions are misfolded versions of normal proteins that can induce other proteins to also become misfolded, leading to brain damage. Scientists study how prions spread, how they change proteins, and potential ways to prevent or treat these diseases. Recent research aims to uncover the detailed mechanisms of prion replication and transmission, seeking insights that could inform diagnostics, therapies, or safety measures to control prion-related illnesses.