Is meningitis a prion disease?

No. Most cases of meningitis are viral, bacterial, or fungal, causing an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Prion diseases are caused by the prion protein which causes the abnormal folding of proteins in the brain. read more

No. Most cases of meningitis are viral, bacterial, or fungal, causing an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Prion diseases are caused by the prion protein which causes the abnormal folding of proteins in the brain. They can be transmitted through a variety of ways, including genetically. read more

• Prion diseases are often called spongiform encephalopathies because of the post mortem appearance of the brain with large vacuoles in the cortex and cerebellum • The cellular prion protein PrPc is a naturally occurring, single gene-derived gp that exists in cytoplasmic and membrane associated forms, found in neurons but also in other cells of mammals and birds. read more

How sporadic prion disease arises, is a mystery. Perhaps the initial seed of PrP Sc is caused by somatic mutations or by posttranslational modifications. The transmissibility of prion diseases has been proven by animal experiments. Natural transmission from animal to animal (especially in sheep) has been known for many years. read more