University:
Western Sydney University
Course:
MEDI 2003 | Clinical Sciences 2
Academic year:

2024
Views:

349

Pages:

1
Author:

Mariam A. A.

Prions ✓ This is a class of non-cellular pathogen. ✓ Prions are classified as non-cellular pathogen as they do not contain any DNA or RNA. Normally, the host organism produces normal protein (PrPC). ✓ If an organism inherited mutated Prnp gene, an abnormal protein called PrPSc (i.e. Prion) can be specified resulting the destabilisation and degradation of neurone synapses. This results in cell death in brain and cause a range of diseases such as Scrapie, Mad-Cow Disease, Kuru, etc. ✓ There are naturally occurring cells that move around the body that removes dead cells. So, as a result, the dead nerve cells in the brain (due to Prion caused diseases) are removed resulting in ‘holes’ in the brain. ✓ The mutated protein (Prion) is resistant to high temperature, high pressure, digestion by lysosome, UV radiation and toxic chemicals. Hence, they are not readily denatured even under abnormal conditions. ✓ It is important that both the amino acid sequence for the normally folded protein (PrPC) and the misfolded protein (PrPSc or Prion) are the same. Name macro parasite of Name of Disease Prion protein Creutzfeldt-Jakob PrPSc Disease Symptoms ✓ Memory Loss ✓ Impaired thinking ✓ Difficulty walking ✓ Difficult speaking ✓ Blurred vision ✓ Depression ✓ Random, involuntary twitches around different parts of body Mode of Transmission ✓ Indirect contact transmission such as through contaminated surgical instruments or ✓ Direct contact by eating beef containing the infectious protein.