Prions

Question 1

How does the disease spread?

Wu can’t they be treated?

Answer 1

Prions are spread through eating contaminated meat and because they resist normal sterilisation methods, they can be spread on surgical instruments.
Prions cannot be treated because they are continuously mutating
E.G. Mad cow disease, kuru, CJD

Question 2

Key structure?

Answer 2

Prions do not have DNA or RNA.
Their backbone consists of four helix shaped strands. In an infectious prion, much of the backbone stretches forming so called beta strands.

Question 3

PrP(c) vs PrP(sc)

Answer 3

An abnormal version of PrPc is termed PrPsc.