86.9k views
5 votes
Which of the following is most resistant to the sterilization process?

a) Prions
b) Bacteria
c) Viruses
d) Fungi

User Annisha
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

a) Prions are the most resistant to sterilization due to their robust nature against heat, chemicals, and radiation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The organism most resistant to the sterilization process is a) Prions. Prions pose a significant challenge to sterilization because they are extremely resistant to heat, chemicals, and radiation. Traditional methods like autoclaving, which can effectively destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi, aren't always sufficient to eliminate prions. These misfolded proteins are associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), which include diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in cattle. Unlike other pathogens, prions lack a nucleic acid genome, making them unique among disease-causing agents.

User SeinopSys
by
8.2k points