What Is a Pathogen?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
5. Types of Pathogens - Prions
Prions are misfolded proteins that can trigger normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally. Prions have been found to cause several transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. Although little is known on how it happens, the abnormal protein is suspected of having infectious properties causing nearby protein molecules to collapse into the same shape. It sometimes spread to humans through infected meat products.
The commonest prion disease affecting humans is Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD). Prion diseases are rare and are estimated to affect just 300 individuals in the United States annually. Other prion disease include Gerstmann-Strussler-Scheinker syndrome, kuru, and fatal familial insomnia.
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