252 – Prions: Infectious Proteins




Talking Biotech Podcast show

Summary: <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkingbiotechpodcast.com%2F252-prions-infectious-proteins%2F&amp;via=talkingbiotech" class="twitter-share-button" data-size="large">Tweet</a><br> <a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/252-terry-cover.jpg"></a><br> A number of strange, devastating and lethal diseases are caused by prions. The most famous of these disorders in animals is Bovine Spongiform Encelapathy,  or “Mad Cow Disease”. Unlike other infectious agents like viruses, bacteria or fungi, prion-based diseases are caused by a misfolding of proteins resident in the body.  Essentially, this is your own chemistry turning against itself.  In this week’s podcast I speak with Dr. Cassandra Terry from London Metropolitan University.  She speaks about prion related diseases, their causes, and how what is learned from prions has illuminated an understanding of other complex neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson Disease.<br>