The evidence is accumulating that prion diseases are due to proteins which change their conformation irreversibly during an association reaction, perhaps by mechanisms related to amyloid accumulation.

• 越来越多的证据指出蛋白感染素疾病(如狂牛病)是因为蛋白质结合过程中其构型产生不可逆的改变，可能是由类淀粉体堆积相关的机制造成。