Overview
Prions and viroids are two unique types of infectious agents that challenge our understanding of pathogens. Prions are misfolded proteins that can induce other proteins to misfold, leading to severe neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Viroids, on the other hand, are small RNA molecules...
Key Terms
Example: Mad Cow Disease is caused by prions.
Example: Potato spindle tuber viroid affects potato crops.
Example: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder.
Example: Infection can lead to disease symptoms.
Example: Bacteria, viruses, and prions are all types of pathogens.
Example: Viroids consist solely of RNA.
Related Topics
Viruses
Study of infectious agents made of genetic material that require a host to replicate.
intermediateBacteria
Understanding single-celled organisms that can be pathogenic or beneficial.
intermediateNeurodegenerative Diseases
Exploration of diseases that affect the nervous system, often linked to prions.
advancedKey Concepts
Prion structureViroid characteristicsInfectious diseasesPlant pathology