Mondo Description A transmissible disease that is caused by a protein that is able to induce abnormal folding of normal cellular proteins, leading to characteristic spongiform brain changes, which are associated with neuronal loss without an inflammatory response. Such disorders have typically long incubation periods, but are then generally rapidly progressive and are uniformly fatal.

Disease Ontology Description A brain disease that is characterized by brain damage resulting from the abnormal folding, clumping and accumulation of cellular proteins in the brain induced by prion proteins.