"The prion (proteinaceous infectious agent). Prions are proteins thought to originate as regular components of neurological tissues in animals: they are not cellular organisms or viruses. In their normal noninfectious state, these proteins may be involved in cell-to-cell communication. When these proteins become abnormally shaped i.e., prions, they are able to transform molecules of the normally shaped protein with which they come into contact to the abnormal prion configuration. This process is repeated numerous times until the number of abnormally shaped molecules causes overt illness. When consumed in the diet, prions are thought to be absorbed into the body where, again, they begin the process of changing their normal protein counterparts into prions. The specific prions of interest in disease and their normally configured proteins are those found in mammals; however, similar proteins occur in other organisms, from chickens to yeasts. While the "prion theory" of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) is widely accepted and explains the occurrence of TSEs, there are other theories of the cause of these illnesses."
HellDust VanBerg - 24/08/03 - "Dedicado à mudança"