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Prion

Synonym(s)

  • prion proteins
  • proteinaceous infectious particle
  • PrP proteins

Definition(s)

Small proteinaceous infectious particle that lacks nucleic acids; pathogen of animals, and apparently man.

Definition from: CRISP Thesaurus via Unified Medical Language SystemThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. at the National Library of Medicine

A protein particle that lacks nucleic acid and has been implicated as the cause of various neurodegenerative diseases (as scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

Definition from: Merriam-Webster's Medical DictionaryThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. by Merriam-Webster Inc.

See also Understanding Medical Terminology.

 
Published: June 10, 2013