prion

From (a reordering of) the initial letters of proteinaceous infectious particle. Coined in 1982 by Stanley B. Prusiner.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹiːɒn/, /ˈpɹaɪən/

prion (plural prions)

1. (molecular biology) A self-propagating misfolded conformer of a protein that is responsible for a number of diseases that affect the brain and other neural tissue.
   • 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial 2004, p. 277:

     Prions retain deep mysteries, the foremost of which is what on earth they exist for.

• prion disease

From Prion (former genus name), from Ancient Greek πρίων (príōn, “saw”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹʌɪən/

prion (plural prions)

1. A petrel of the genus Pachyptila.

• (petrel of the genus Pachyptila): pachyptile (rare)

• bovine spongiform encephalopathy
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• kuru
• mad cow disease
• New Variant Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• scrapie
• viroid

• Porin, Ripon, orpin, ponir, porin, proin, rip on

prion m (plural prions)

1. prion

• prión

prion m (plural priones)

1. prion