infectious proteins

What Makes Prions Infectious?


Prions are infectious due to their ability to propagate by inducing conformational changes in normal, cellular proteins. When a prion contacts a normal protein, it can trigger the normal protein to adopt the prion's abnormal structure, thus propagating the disease. This process is distinct from other infectious agents that rely on genetic material for replication. The mechanism of prion propagation is a key area of study in understanding their infectious nature and developing potential therapeutic interventions.

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