Prions are infectious protein particles that are distinct from traditional pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. They consist of misfolded proteins that possess the ability to propagate their own conformation, inducing normal, correctly folded proteins within a host to adopt the pathogenic misfolded structure. This process leads to the aggregation and deposition of these abnormal protein clumps, typically in the central nervous system. The accumulation of these aggregates results in a progressive neurodegenerative condition known as spongiform encephalopathy. The mechanism involves conformational templating, where the abnormal protein scaffold acts as a template, causing cellular dysfunction and ultimately leading to neurological decline.