Question

describe how prions differ from true "slow viruses".

Answer 1

Prions are infectious protein particles that have neither DNA nor RNA to transmit infection. Prion is an abnormal or mutated form of a usually harmless protein. When this normal protein becomes a prion, it becomes dangerous and can cause several mostly fatal neurodegenerative brain diseases.

Once prions enter the brain, they force the normal cellular proteins to begin folding into abnormal shapes. This destroys the neurons and eventually leads the brain to become riddled with holes. This spongelike brain consistency is where the medical name for mad cow disease comes from — bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Prions also cause the condition "scrapie," a degenerative disease affecting the nervous system, in sheep and goats.

Prions cannot be destroyed by sterilization or by cooking (although incineration works). The best way to avoid spreading prions in humans and animals is to prevent brain and spinal cord tissue from getting into the food supply or onto medical equipment.

The most common disease caused by Prions is mad cow disease.

Slow Virus: A slow virus is a virus like agent etiologically associated with slow virus disease. A slow virus disease is a disease, that after an extended period of latency follows a slow progressive course, spanning months to years and frequently involving the central nervous system, and in most cases progresses to death. For example, HIV/AIDS.