Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species
Published on: November 6, 2013
Prion diseases: Lessons from historical outbreaks and potential emerging ones
Aidan P Holman1,2, Dmitry Kurouski1,3
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
None:
Prion diseases (PrDs) are a unique and fatal class of neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded proteinaceous infectious particles, or prions. While the pathogenic form was first documented in humans nearly a century ago, the global monitoring of PrDs only gained momentum after the "Mad Cow" epizootic and its human counterpart of the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, 34 countries track human prion cases annually, with over 27,000 cases. However, true prevalence estimates suggest significantly higher numbers, millions, highlighting the urgency of addressing these enigmatic diseases. Prions are exceptionally resilient, resisting conventional sterilization methods and persisting in environmental reservoirs, such as soil and plants, raising concerns about environmental and cross-species transmission, particularly with the growing prevalence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids. This review explores the history, pathogenesis, presence, public health implications, and novel innovations in studying and treatment of PrDs. Future priorities should include the development of faster, cost-effective diagnostic tools and systemic therapies to neutralize prions in affected individuals and mitigate environmental risks. Understanding and addressing the challenges posed by prions is critical for global health security in the wake of CWD.
Related Concept Videos
Steps in Outbreak Investigation
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
Subviral Agents
Viral Recombination
Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
Viral Mutations

