He has shown that prion proteins exist in two forms - one normal and one abnormal.

Pick bodies and Pick cells contain an abnormal form of a protein called tau.

The exact cause of the abnormal form of the protein is unknown.

On the contrary, it shuts itself up in the present, and says with perfect sincerity: "I am an abnormal form of Government imposed by circumstances."

The disease-causing prions are believed to convert their normal counterpart protein into the abnormal form.

An abnormal form of the prion protein can make the normal proteins abnormal too, the process that leads to the disease.

The process of human development Rothe regards as necessarily taking an abnormal form and passing through the phase of sin.

Another oncogene may be an abnormal form of a growth factor gene itself.

These theoretical variants, known as prions, are thought to convert their normal counterpart proteins into the abnormal form.

These abnormal forms are highly inflammatory, activating white blood cells called macrophages.