The Naked Scientists
Toggle navigation
Login
Register
Podcasts
The Naked Scientists
eLife
Naked Genetics
Naked Astronomy
In short
Naked Neuroscience
Ask! The Naked Scientists
Question of the Week
Archive
Video
SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
Articles
Science News
Features
Interviews
Answers to Science Questions
Get Naked
Donate
Do an Experiment
Science Forum
Ask a Question
About
Meet the team
Our Sponsors
Site Map
Contact us
User menu
Login
Register
Search
Home
Help
Search
Tags
Recent Topics
Login
Register
Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences
Cells, Microbes & Viruses
How can prions be transmitted via ingestion or inhalation?
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
How can prions be transmitted via ingestion or inhalation?
1 Replies
3512 Views
0 Tags
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
scientizscht
(OP)
Naked Science Forum King!
1006
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 3 times
Naked Science Forum
How can prions be transmitted via ingestion or inhalation?
«
on:
15/06/2019 23:33:28 »
Prions are proteins and it seems not very small ones.
How do they transmit through ingestion and inhalation and how do they cross the blood brain barrier?
Logged
evan_au
Global Moderator
Naked Science Forum GOD!
11035
Activity:
9%
Thanked: 1486 times
Re: How can prions be transmitted via ingestion or inhalation?
«
Reply #1 on:
16/06/2019 00:21:13 »
I have heard of prions being infectious via the digestive system.
- I can imagine that they could bypass the digestive system if they get in via a blood transfusion, during surgery or even a cut in the skin
- I have heard suggestions that prions may be transmitted via optometrists eye-pressure measuring instruments, since there have been traces of prions discovered in the tears of infected individuals, and perhaps they could infect the nerves of the cornea.
- But inhalation seems unlikely, unless the prions were aerosolised (eg in an abattoir); but there have been experiments done on this route...
Your digestive system is very good at breaking down proteins into their constituent amino acids.
- However, prions are not individual proteins, but a polymer of misfolded protein, forming long strings or tangles which would make it difficult for digestive enzymes to attack.
- Presumably, ulcers or other breaks in the stomach lining could allow them into the nervous system or bloodstream.
See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prion#Transmission
Logged
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
Tags:
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...