Question

The image on the left shows normal brain tissue. The image on the right was taken posthumously from a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (Figure 24.22B). This tissue shows damage caused by a

Choose one:
A. prion.
B. fungus.
C. bacterium.
D. virus.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. prion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The image on the right, taken posthumously from a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), indicates damage caused by a prion (Option A). Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of abnormal prion proteins in the brain. Prions are misfolded proteins that can induce normal proteins to adopt the same abnormal conformation, leading to the formation of insoluble aggregates that damage neural tissue.

Unlike typical infectious agents such as bacteria (Option C) or viruses (Option D), prions do not contain genetic material. Instead, they propagate by converting normal cellular proteins into the abnormal, disease-associated form. This unique mode of transmission and the lack of a traditional genetic component contribute to the distinct pathology observed in prion diseases.

Understanding the pathology associated with different infectious agents is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. In the case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, recognizing the characteristic damage caused by prions in brain tissue, as seen in the posthumous image, is essential for confirming the diagnosis and differentiating it from other neurological conditions caused by infectious agents like bacteria or viruses.