First... to learn the nature of things			NATURAM PRIMUM COGNOSCERE RERUM

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59. Prions

Table ofContents

Taxonomy

Original Source and History of Virus
Virion Properties

Morphology
Physicochemical and Physical Properties
Nucleic Acid
Proteins
Lipids
Carbohydrates

Genome Organization and Replication

Infectivity
Replication
Function of Helper and Satellite Viruses
Cytopathology

Antigenic Properties

Serological Relationships
Diagnosis

Biological Properties

Symptoms and Host Range
Transmission
Geographic Distribution
Ecology and Control
Diagnostic and Methods

Taxonomic Structure
General Comments
References
Data sources and Contributors
Related Databases
Additional Data Sources and Teaching aids

Taxonomy

Virus Code. 59. Virus Accession number 59000000.
Synonym(s): subviral agents of spongiform encephalitis.
 

Comments: Prions are small, proteinaceous infectious particles that resist inactivation by procedures which affect nucleic acids. To date, no detectable nucleic acids of any kind and no virus-like particles have been associated with prions. Prions cause scrapie and other spongiform encephalopathies of animals and humans.

Virus infects vertebrates.

Description is on taxonomic level of family.

Properties of Virion

Morphology

Microsomal membranes visible in infected brain cells. Virions not enveloped. Microsomal fractions from infected brain tissues enriched for prion infectivity contain numerous membrane vesicles; detergent extraction and limited proteolysis of brain microsomes generate rod-shaped particles. The rods are smooth, almost ribbon-like, and infrequently are twisted. The rods resemble purified amyloid, both ultrastructurally and histochemically. The rods are not considered the infectious entity since large PrP 27-30 polymers are not required for infectivity. Nucleocapsids rod-shaped (smooth, almost ribbon-like); (25-)165(-550) nm long; 11 nm in diameter.

Taxonomic Structure

Taxonomic structure of the family.

References

The following references are cited in the Sixth ICTV Report: rf_prion.htm.

Data sources and contributors.

The above description has been compiled from the data presented in the Sixth ICTV Report by Prusiner SB, Baldwin M, Collinge J, DeArmond SJ, Marsh R, Tateishi J, Weissmann C.

Description generated automatically from DELTA-format data.

   

   

   

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