Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) refers to a group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions, which are misfolded proteins. These conditions affect the brain and nervous system, resulting in characteristic sponge-like holes in brain tissue. TSEs are known to be fatal, with no current cure or treatment. Examples of TSEs include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow disease") in cattle, and Scrapie in sheep.
