PRNP and infection: It may be that the conversion to PrPSc, or perturbations to cellular activity occurring during the process of infection, act to inhibit the normal SOD-like activity of PrPC [42] although it is likely that the result of conformational changes to PrPC molecules, and the generation of altered PrPSc isoforms, leads to the loss of intrinsic PrPC antioxidant capacity.