What does PRION mean?

Prion

A prion is a type of protein that can cause degenerative diseases in the brain and nervous system. It is a small, infectious particle that is resistant to most methods of sterilization and can survive in the environment for long periods of time.

Parts of Speech:

Noun

Definitions:

• a type of protein that can cause degenerative diseases in the brain and nervous system
• a small, infectious particle that is resistant to most methods of sterilization and can survive in the environment for long periods of time

Pronunciations:

• US: /ˈpraɪ.ɑn/
• UK: /ˈpriː.ɒn/

Origin and Usage:

The term "prion" was coined in 1982 by Stanley B. Prusiner, who discovered that a protein was responsible for the transmission of scrapie, a degenerative disease in sheep. Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), can affect humans and animals, and include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as "mad cow disease."

Synonyms:

• PrPSc (abnormal isoform of the prion protein)
• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)

Related Words:

• Proin
• Orpin
• Primo
• Opine
• Pinot

Example Sentences:

• The prion protein is a normal part of the body, but when it becomes misfolded, it can cause disease.
• Prion diseases are rare, but they are fatal and have no cure.
• Scientists are still studying how prions work and how they can be destroyed