Prion related diseases are caused by 'Prions' which are proteinic in nature. These proteinaceous infectious particles transmit disease from cell to cell, similar to viral and bacterial disease, however do not have any DNA or RNA. In humans Creutzfeldt Jacob syndrome and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) are examples. The infectious particles cause progressive neurodegeneration.
Treatmet of these syndromes is difficult as the causative agents, the prions are misfolded forms of protein found in normal healthy cells. The misfolded form when introduced in a cell causes the normal form to misfold in a self perpetuating cycle. Since this type of syndromes are unlike viral and bacterial diseases and the causative agents are close variants of normally found protein finding a cure has not been successful as yet.
