noun
- an infectious protein particle that lacks nucleic acid and causes degenerative brain diseases
Usage: medical; scientific
Examples
- Prions cause mad cow disease in cattle.
- The scientist studied how prions spread through brain tissue.
- Prion diseases are always fatal in humans.
- Cooking does not destroy prions like it does bacteria.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by prions.
- Prions can remain infectious for years on surgical instruments.