What are prions in microbiology?

In microbiology, prions are studied as unconventional infectious agents that are composed solely of misfolded proteins and lack nucleic acids. They are significant because they challenge traditional concepts of infectious disease. Prions are responsible for a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. Research in microbiology focuses on understanding how prions cause disease, their mechanisms of transmission, and methods for diagnosis and treatment. The study of prions has expanded the understanding of protein misfolding diseases and has implications for public health and safety.