Infectious disease doctor Andrey Pozdnyakov spoke about the dangerous pathogens of deadly diseases – prions.
Prion diseases are progressive degenerative, incurable and ultimately fatal lesions brain.
According to Pozdnyakov, prion diseases are primary cerebral amyloidoses, which are conformational diseases. Prions are proteins that differ from “normal” proteins not in amino acid composition, but in an altered form. In simple terms, a “normal” protein molecule is wrapped clockwise, and a prion molecule is turned counterclockwise.
—In prion diseases, a group of atypical proteins, amyloids, begins to be synthesized in the central nervous system. They are deposited in all cells and lead to disruption of the central nervous system, – the doctor said to Izvestia.
Prions can enter the human body as a result of infection, that is, from the outside, and for other reasons. After entering the body, the prion begins to change proteins similar to itself in the pathological direction.
—This process is slow and avalanche-like, and no one knows why, — Pozdnyakov noted.
Further, disturbances occur in the central nervous system, they progress and are expressed in behavioral reactions and serious violations of the functioning of organs.
These diseases are not transmitted through the air. Infection can occur either with food or with the introduction into the body of drugs containing animal components.
– Animals also suffer from prion diseases and die from them. Animals are used to make products such as bone meal, which are fed to other animals, and they also become infected. Since the disease develops very slowly, it may not be noticed, the animal may be slaughtered and the products sent for consumption, the expert added.
Thus, infection occurs when eating meat or milk of an infected animal, or using its tissues (cornea, blood products, etc.), using biological suture material during surgical interventions.
How prions differ from viruses?
Prions are much smaller than viruses and differ from viruses, bacteria and living cells in that they do not contain genetic material. In prion diseases, a normal protein called cellular prion protein changes shape (misfolds) and becomes abnormal.
The most common manifestations of such diseases are:
- Progressive dementia
- Impaired vision
- Impaired coordination
- Speech impairment
- Tremors
- Muscle stiffness
- Myoclonus
- Depression
Read more See also: Millions of people are at risk of developing diabetes if they catch a common viral infection.
The duration of the contagiousness of a room for coronaviruses is named
Read more: Five bright signs of diabetes that appear in the morning.
Infectionist told how long after covid-19 you can not drink alcohol
You can also read: What to do if the doctor diagnosed “suspected cancer”: an algorithm of actions.
< b>Important! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.