CJD and Kuru: Prion Viruses By: Danny Nemeth

Prion infectious agent composed of protein in a misfolded form infectious agent composed of protein in a misfolded form

CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease neurodegenerative disorder neurodegenerative disorder year of onset of illness year of onset of illness

Structure Structure no Nucleic acids no Nucleic acids mass of 27, ,000 daltons mass of 27, ,000 daltons 145 amino acids 145 amino acids Structure unknown Structure unknown

Cause promotes refolding of native proteins promotes refolding of native proteins mass of misfolded proteins disrupts cell function mass of misfolded proteins disrupts cell function

ALWAYS FATAL!

Symptoms Neurological Neurological Depression Depression Confusion Confusion loss of coordination and balance loss of coordination and balance progressive blindness progressive blindness

Transmission GENETICS! GENETICS! Defective HGH Defective HGH CANNIBALISM! CANNIBALISM!

KURU Misfolded Proteins Misfolded Proteins Cannibalism Cannibalism Brains Brains

Symptoms Coordination problems Coordination problems Difficulty walking Difficulty walking Swallowing difficulty Swallowing difficulty Tremors and muscle jerks Tremors and muscle jerks

Treatment and Prognosis NONE!  Prognosis Death after 1 year of symptoms

Stuff I Used tml tml tml tml tm tm tm tm %80%93Jakob_disease %80%93Jakob_disease %80%93Jakob_disease %80%93Jakob_disease /PMH / /PMH /