Yasko was Re: does valtrex KILL virus?

[Guest guest]

Virus 101 from Dr.Amy Yasko from the www.autismanswer.com website in

response to a similar question from a parent about Valtrex.

Briefly, in the meantime...there are several types of viruses. Two

of the basic groups are DNA viruses and RNA viruses. The difference

between these two groups is the form in which their genetic

information is contained. For RNA viruses, the genetic information

is in the form of RNA. For DNA based viruses it is as DNA.

Herpes is a DNA based virus. CMV, EBV, hepatitis are all DNA

viruses.

Measles, mumps and rubella are RNA based viruses.

Our own genetic information is stored as DNA. The information that

is used from the DNA is what is made into RNA. One way to think

about it, is that DNA is all of the stock in the warehouse, and RNA

is what you actually buy to use. The analogy that I use in talks,

and in the RNA book (which describes DNA and RNA more slowly so you

can really understand it better) is my " home depot " example. DNA is

all the wood, nails, screws etc on the shelves of home depot. RNA is

the building materials you need for a particular job, let's say to

build your house, and then the completed project that you can see,

the house itself, is the protein.

So, to get back to the main point, our genetic material (all of our

information) is stored as DNA. When we are infected with a DNA based

virus like herpes, it can multiply which is what we see as active

infection or outbreaks. Or, it can be latent. When it is latent it

is sitting inside our DNA in our cells. If you think of our DNA as

one long pearl necklace. Then imagine cutting the string that holds

the beads. Now insert some colored beads in the middle of your pearl

necklace. Now rejoin the necklace. We now have a pearl necklace with

a group of red beads in the middle of the pearls. The red beads can

just sit there until conditions are such that the red beads can pop

back out, leaving the pearls as they were initially. The red beads

can now multiply and cause active infection. Some of these red

beads, AKA herpes that are now active can create symptoms, some can

pop back into the pearl necklace of our DNA.

When the virus pops out of the DNA to go from a latent form to an

active form it needs to multiply. In order to multiply it needs to

make more of its own DNA. There are four building blocks for DNA

(again explained in much more easy to understand detail in the RNA

book). The way valtrex works is to replace one of these four

building blocks for DNA. The building block provided by valtrex is

altered so that it interferes with the process for linking the beads

together to make more virus.

So, valtrex actually interferes with viral replication. It does not

suppress the virus.

In order for valtrex to work, the virus needs to be actively

replicating. If it is not replicating, if it is still stuck in the

form of red beads within the pearl necklace, the valtrex cannot act.

Recent work (Nature Reviews in Drug Discovery Nov 2005) in the field

of HIV research (HIV also integrates into our DNA) has shown that

the most effective way to treat this type of virus is to activate

the latent virus, that virus which is still inside the pearl

necklace, as well as to interfere with its ability to multiply.

Bottom line, using several different types of antiviral agents at

the same time that work via different mechanisms is more effective

than using a single antiviral agent.

Valtrex can only interfere with replication of viruses that use DNA

building blocks. This would include DNA based viruses, but not RNA

based viruses. Valtrex can interfere with herpes viral replication,

but not so for measles, mumps and rubella.

Measles, mumps and rubella are RNA based viruses. Measles and mumps

are retroviruses, which means that they can reverse their RNA, back

to DNA, and then they are able to get stuck inside our pearl

necklaces. Then when they are ready to multiply again, the red beads

pop out of our DNA, and turn back into RNA to make more viral RNA.

While rubella is not a retrovirus, in other words it does not have

the equipment to reverse its RNA into DNA, it is able to borrow this

equipment from measles and mumps. So in the presence of other

retroviruses, rubella can act like a retrovirus.

Once viral DNA is integrated into our DNA, so once the red beads are

part of our pearl necklace, the viral DNA can be copied when our DNA

is copied. The way that the viral DNA is silenced, so that it is not

active is by methyl groups. The body recognizes DNA that is not our

own, DNA that is foreign, and it puts methyl groups on it to keep it

quiet. If we have methylation cycle mutations we cannot do this

properly.

The longer that the methylation cycle is not working properly, the

more virus that can build up. That is why the viral load is higher

in older children, and why it can take longer to clear the virus. We

need to get the virus to pop out of our DNA, and then we need to

squash it once it is in an active, replicative form. Evidence of the

virus coming out of hiding, out of our pearl necklace is seen as

rashes, fever, headaches, vomiting, etc. I believe that elevated

creatinine is also a sign of virus coming out of hiding.

The role of methylation in viral silencing is another reason why I

am stressing the need for nutrigenomic testing for the methylation

pathway for all children. As you know I believe that virus helps to

hold onto metals in the body. Once you eradicate the virus, the

metals will be excreted. The longer the virus has been in the body,

the more difficult to get to these metals. Once we have seen the

release of metals, we still need to think about chronic viral

infection. That is why it is important to be sure that methylation

is working properly even for those children who have recovered using

other means to cause metal excretion. As I have mentioned in the

past, a number of chelating agents also have antiviral activity.

For an example, let?s think about glutathione. I do know of children

who have recovered and excreted large amounts of metals using

glutathione as the major part of their treatment. This is wonderful.

However, if these children were autistic to begin with, then

imbalances in their bodies allowed the condition to occur in the

first place. Underlying factors such as methylation cycle mutations,

chronic viral and bacterial infection, heavy metal exposure all led

to creating a condition of autism. Once we have used ie glutathione

to get rid of metals (glutathione also has antiviral activity) we

have eliminated some of the risk factors. If we do not fix the

underlying methylation cycle mutations, there is nothing to

prevent virus from accumulating in the body again. The mechanism for

viral silencing is still broken. The mechanism for turning on and

off DNA expression called epigenetics is still broken (the BBC

article that came out yesterday about food and methionine relied on

epigenetics to be functioning properly to work). The ability to make

some of the building blocks for DNA and RNA that requires

methylation is still broken. Just to name a few consequences of in

adequate methylation. Basically, until the methylation cycle is

addressed it is like a time bomb waiting to go off. This is why it

is so important to look at this pathway and to bypass

mutations in this pathway.

I will make some slides for February that depict this so that you

have a visual image of DNA and RNA based viral integration. I

strongly suggest the RNA Educational Starter Kit that includes the

book and several DVDs for visual aids for more information on this

topic.

Again, thank you for asking this question.

With love and hope and a hug,

Dr. Amy

>

> I would be interested in this too. Our son has been on 250 mg.

threetimes a

> day for almost 3 weeks and we've seen nothing - no rash, no fever,

no

> healing regression. He is on Diflucan now and was on Nystatin and

Biocidin

> before that. Is he just a non-responder, or should we up the

dosage, or

> maybe just keep waiting? I plan on asking our DAN, but we won't

have an

> appointment for a few more weeks. Any information is appreciated.

>

> Nickie

> does valtrex KILL virus?

>

>

> or just suppress it?

>

> my son is on it for 2 weeks, now up to 250 3x/day. no rash or

> reaction, is the does too low or should i just wait?

>

> thanks.

>

> marcia

>

>

>

>

> --

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>