Final answer:
Prions are believed to cause neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the degeneration of brain tissue, leading to severe neurological decline and ultimately death. These diseases are transmitted through consumption of contaminated tissue and cause the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins in the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prions are believed to cause neurodegenerative diseases. These are acellular infectious agents responsible for a group of related diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which includes conditions like kuru in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, also known colloquially as "mad cow disease". These diseases result in the degeneration of brain tissue, leading to symptoms such as loss of motor control, unusual behaviors, and are ultimately fatal.
Infected prions cause disease by converting normally folded prion proteins into misshapen, diseased forms that accumulate in brain tissue. The conversion of normal prion protein (PrPC) into the disease-causing form (PrPSc) and subsequent accumulation is key to the progression of these conditions. Prions contribute to neurodegenerative disorders by causing brain tissues to develop holes and take on a spongy texture, thus leading to severe neurological decline.
Prions are transmissible, and they can be spread through the consumption of contaminated tissue, such as nervous tissue or internal organs from an infected individual or animal. The fatal nature of these diseases, combined with their method of transmission, underscores the importance of understanding prions in the context of infectious diseases and food safety.