How does the number of infectious prions increase?
- prions transform normal proteins into the misfolded beta-pleated sheet configuration; therefore, prions multiply by conversion.
- prions form multimers which can then form more single copies of the prion protein.
- prions reproduce by mitosis.
- prions reproduce by binary fission.

The correct answer is-Prions transform normal proteins into the misfolded beta-pleated sheet configuration; therefore, prions multiply by conversion.

Explanation:

Prions are infectious proteins that cause many neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. These proteins are formed when normal prion protein(PrP) misfolds into abnormal Scrapie protein(PrPsc).

The normal prion protein has more alpha-helix in its structure but in infectious protein due to misfolding more beta-sheet structures are formed. These abnormal forms of prions when enters the brain it converts the normal prion proteins into abnormal infectious prion proteins.

Therefore the number of infectious prions increases by transformation of normal prion proteins into scrapie protein which have misfolded beta-pleated sheet.