What does prion mean?
A small, infectious protein particle that can cause disease, especially a neurodegenerative disorder such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Prions are composed of a misfolded protein that can induce normal proteins to also misfold, leading to cell death and tissue damage.
Example
"The researchers discovered that the prion was highly contagious and could be transmitted through contact with infected tissue."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.