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"Viroid-like elements" refer to pieces of covalently closed circular (ccc) RNA molecules that do not share the viroid's lifecycle. The category encompasses satellite RNAs (including small plant satRNAs " virusoids ", fungal " ambivirus ", and the much larger HDV -like Ribozyviria ) and "retroviroids".
This page was last edited on 11 December 2024, at 20:09 (UTC).; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License; additional terms may apply.
The first virusoid was discovered in Nicotiana velutina plants infected with Velvet tobacco mottle virus R2 (VTMOV). [5] [6] These RNAs have also been referred to as viroid-like RNAs that can infect commercially important agricultural crops and are non–self-replicating single stranded RNAs. [7]
An obelisk is a microscopic genetic element that consists of a type of infectious agent composed of RNA.Described as a "viroid-like element", they consist of RNA in a circular rod shape without any protein shell coating.
A prion / ˈ p r iː ɒ n / ⓘ is a misfolded protein that induces misfolding in normal variants of the same protein, leading to cellular death.Prions are responsible for prion diseases, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSEs), which are fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases affecting both humans and animals.
The abnormal protein PrP Sc accumulates in the brain and destroys nerve cells, which leads to the mental and behavioral features of prion diseases. [citation needed] Several other changes in the PRNP gene (called polymorphisms) do not cause prion diseases but may affect a person's risk of developing these diseases or alter the course of the ...
The subsequent demonstration that human prion diseases were transmissible reinforced the importance of spongiform change as a diagnostic feature, reflected in the use of the term "spongiform encephalopathy" for this group of disorders. Prions appear to be most infectious when in direct contact with affected tissues.
Plants uptake prions from contaminated soil and transport them into their stem and leaves, potentially transmitting the prions to herbivorous animals. [22] Additionally, wood, rocks, plastic, glass, cement, stainless steel, and aluminum have been shown binding, retaining, and releasing prions, showcasing that the proteins resist environmental ...