Viroids and Prions Images taken without permission from http://www.newsandevents.utoronto.ca/images5/prions.jpg Viroids • Circular RNA molecules • Infect plants • Don’t code for proteins– disrupt regulatory systems in plants • Causes growth problems in plants • Hepatitis D viroid causes Hepatitis D in humans (in combination with virus) Putative secondary structure of the PSTV (potato spindle tuber viroid). Prions • Infectious proteins • Misfolded version of a naturally occurring protein in animals • Causes the similar proteins to also misfold Unique pathogens • Do not need to replicate themselves to infect and cause problems • Other infectious particles other than viruses Prion Reproduction • Prions cause other similar proteins to also misfold lose function Animations • How Stuff Works Animation • http://www.maxanim.com/microbiology/Pri on/Prion.htm
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