Prusiner: novel proteinaceous infectious particles causing scrapie

What changed

Reported biochemical evidence that the scrapie agent required a protein for infectivity, resisted procedures targeting nucleic acids and warranted the proposed term prion.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact 1982 Science paper and the evidence summarized there. Earlier scrapie transmission work, later prion-protein purification and genetics, structural studies and other prion diseases remain separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1982 Science paper and the evidence summarized there. Earlier scrapie transmission work, later prion-protein purification and genetics, structural studies and other prion diseases remain separate.

Contributors

• Stanley B. Prusiner · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• PubMed record for Prusiner’s prion paper
• Crossref record for Prusiner’s prion paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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