an alternative view to mycoplasmas - one of them hopeless diseases

[Guest guest]

http://www.chelationtherapyonline.com/anatomy/p111.htm

For years we in the CFS/FMS/MCS community hav*e been watching the reports of

Gulf War Illness (GWI) knowing, instinctively, that we all had something in

common. Not only do we all have common symptoms, but we may also be infected

with common pathogenic organisms. That pathogen is a Mycoplasma. Various

pathogenic strains have been identified including the fermentans (incognitus),

penetrans, genitalium, hominis, and pneumoniae. And, we may be infected with

several of these strains at one time. Following is a simple overview of the

information I have gathered about this Mycoplasma pathogen and how it affects

us.

HOW WAS MYCOPLASMA INFECTION IDENTIFIED IN GWS AND CFIDS PATIENTS?

The information trail started with Garth and Nicolson. Their daughter

returned from the Gulf War with an unexplained illness. She was unable to

continue her studies at college, and moved back home. Soon after, her parents

both became ill with the same symptoms. Medical tests revealed nothing abnormal,

but they all continued to worsen. Fortunately for them, however, the Nicolson's

were molecular pathologists with an entire research laboratory at their

disposal. The Nicolson's drew blood and tissue samples from themselves and their

daughter, and set the research team, to work.

Garth Nicolson Ph.D. is a professor and former chairman of the Department of

Tumor Biology at the University of Texas, M.D. Cancer Center, Houston,

TX. He is also a professor of Internal Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory

Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School. He has published over 500

scientific and medical papers, has edited 14 books, he is the current editor of

two scientific and medical journals. Dr. Nicolson has been nominated for the

Nobel Prize in cell microbiology, is among the 100 most cited researchers in the

world, and sits on the board of the American Association of Cancer Research.

Nicolson, Ph.D. is president of the Rhodon Foundation for Biomedical

Research. She, also, has published numerous scientific papers and was a

professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Baylor College of

Medicine.

What they found was a living Mycoplasma pathogen. In order to find this

organism, they had to break open the leukocytes (white blood cells), and perform

a specific test called a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the DNA of the

organism. also perfected another test, called Gene Tracking, which

confirms the PCR results. (1) To gather more information, they then started

testing other Gulf War Illness (GWI) patients. What they found was that

approximately 50% were positive for the live organism. The Nicolson's then

researched treatment options and found a number of antibiotics that were

effective against the organism. (2) After a lengthy course of antibiotics, they

recovered. But, the word was out, and requests for testing of GWI patients kept

coming in to the lab. They were inundated! As their evidence mounted, they

published their data (3) (4) (5) and testified before the President's Panel on

Gulf War Illnesses. (6)

Then the connection was made by the government of the similarities between GWI

and CFIDS. (7) By this time, the Nicolson's lab was already running tests of

those with CFIDS---with the same results-- approximately 50% positive! Garth and

Nicolson even wrote an article for the CFIDS Chronicle outlining the

diagnosis and treatment of GWI/CFIDS. (8)

But, the politics of medicine and research slowed the gears of progress! Garth

and had to relocate their non-profit lab (The Institute for Molecular

Medicine), first to Irvine, CA, then to Huntington Beach, CA. They have had

difficulty finding funding for the Mycoplasma research. For their research to

continue with CFIDS testing, they need a new grant. In the meantime, they have

formed a non-profit organization and take tax deductible donations. Presently,

one can become a " Friend of the Institute " and have the various tests done at

The Institute for Molecular Biology lab, as well as, participate in the research

(see Mycoplasma Resource List for full instructions).

They only recently opened a private laboratory, International Molecular

Diagnostics, that can run a variety of tests and does third-party billing of

insurance for part of the cost of the tests.

Those of us who have tested positive and have begun treatment with the

antibiotics recommended by the Nicolson's have had tremendous success. Some of

these people have been ill with CFS/FMS/MCS for 15-20 years. But, they are

feeling better for the first time since becoming ill! Some have even returned to

work. Many have completed several months of antibiotics, and several have been

taking them continuously for 4-5 years. Since most of us in the CFS/FMS/MCS

community have been ill with this organism for a lot longer than the GWI

patients do, it may take longer to successfully treat the infection.

WHAT IS MYCOPLASMA?

Mycoplasmas are the smallest and simplest organism known. They are not new. They

were discovered over 100 years ago and evolved from bacteria. The " garden

variety " mycoplasma is not usually associated with severe diseases. (13)

However, sometime over the past 30 years, the organism has been altered to

become more lethal. The Mycoplasmas found by the Nicolson's, in their lab,

contain unusual gene sequences that were probably inserted into the Mycoplasma

by a specific laboratory procedure. This discovery has led them to conclude that

the new forms of mycoplasma were specifically engineered for germ warfare. (9)

In it's laboratory evolution, the Mycoplasmas have became more invasive, more

difficult to find, and capable of causing severe diseases in humans. Diseases,

like Gulf War Illness, CFS, FMS, MCS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and AIDS, for

instance.

The earlier form of Mycoplasma was studied by Dr. Shyh Lo, formerly of Tanox

Biosystems, a spin-off biotechnology company from the Baylor College of

Medicine, but now affiliated with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in

Washington D.C. Dr. Lo has been credited with discovering the new pathogenic

form of Mycoplasmas, and he currently holds several patents on methods for

special handling of the organisms for study and development. (10) In one of his

patents (in 1991), Dr. Lo lists the following diseases that are caused by

Mycoplasma: HIV infection, AIDS, Aids Related Complex (ARC), Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome, Wegener's Disease, Sarcoidosis, Respiratory Distress Syndrome,

Kibuchi's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and Lupus. (10) In addition, Baseman and

Tully have reviewed the literature on the role of Mycoplasmal infections in

human disease and have concluded that they are important factors or co-factors

in a variety of chronic illnesses. (11)

Unlike bacteria, the Mycoplasma has no cell wall. This enables it to invade

tissue cells, incorporating the cell's nutrients, and using the cell to

replicate itself (much like a retrovirus). (13) When the Mycoplasma breaks out

of the cell, it takes a piece of the host cell membrane with it. When the immune

system attacks the Mycoplasma, it also gets " turned on " to attacking the host

cell. In this way, an autoimmune condition can begin. Autoimmune conditions

associated with Mycoplasmas include arthritis, Fibromyalgia, myositis, thyroid

dysfunction (Hashimoto's or Grave's Diseases), and adrenal dysfunction, signs

and symptoms of Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Lou Gehrig's Disease. (12)

The Mycoplasma organism has the capacity to invade cells, tissues and blood,

producing systemic infections in numerous organ systems. According to Dr.

Nicholson, it can penetrate the central and peripheral nervous system. Because

it has the ability to damage the immune system by invading the natural killer

cells (NK cells) of the lymphocytes, it weakens them, reduces their numbers, and

renders them susceptible to viral infections, such as Human Herpes Virus 6

(HHV6), HHV7 or HHV8. (14) (15) (16) It may also explain some of the

environmentally sensitive responses that are seen with CFIDS and MCS.

Mycoplasma infection can trigger inflammatory cytokine over-production that is

commonly seen in CFS/FMS. With the induction of CD-4+ helper cells of the immune

system, an over production of cytokines such as Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6 and

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha occurs. (15)(16)(17) These elevated cytokines have

been implicated in the development of many of the CFS/FMS symptoms, including

neurological involvement. (19)(20) They can have specific or nonspecific

stimulatory or suppressive effects on lymphocytes, as measured by B and T cell

activation. (18) In addition, the Mycoplasma infection has immunomodulating

effects, activating the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This can cause a

cascade of limbic system symptoms characteristic of CFS/FMS. (19)

The Mycoplasma is a slow-growing, stealth-type organism that can cause the

patient to be very ill. It activates the immune system, then can successfully

hide from it within the host immune cells. It can then circulate throughout the

body and go wherever a white blood cell can go. It can cause infection deep

within any or all organs. It can even cross the blood/brain barrier and cause

brain and spinal infection. It has also been known to cross the placental

barrier to an unborn fetus.

Unless the white blood cell is split open and examined for the evidence of the

live organism, it can go undetected for years. Because the organism resides deep

within the cells, conventional antibody tests may be relatively useless. (21)

The splitting open (fraction) of leukocytes (white blood cells) from a fresh

blood sample, with a forensic PCR test is the most accurate way to detect the

presence of active infection with a live pathogen. Further gene-tracking

techniques perfected by the Nicolson's are even more accurate. (22)

CONTAGION

Although the researchers have not clearly established how contagious the

Mycoplasmas are, they have made some inferences from the data they have

collected. The Mycoplasma organism has been found in the blood and body fluids,

spinal fluid, bone marrow, urine, and in the lungs, nose and mouth. The

Mycoplasma is reported to be able to survive for two hours outside the body. Of

those with Gulf War Illness, 50% of their spouses have contracted the disease

and 100% of their children. Several babies have also been known to be born with

the disease. Some sort of chemical exposure or immune distress (i.e., auto

accident, surgery, cancer) appears to pre-date the onset of illness. Of those

with CFS, FMS, and MCS, numerous friends and spouses have the illness, as well

as close relatives. So, from the anecdotal reports, it would appear that

Mycoplasma is contagious after both casual and intimate contact. This means that

the organism may possibly be passed to another through sputum (coughing droplets

that contain the organism), saliva, sexual secretions, blood, and urine. The

disease is also developing in family pets.

If one tests positive for any of the Mycoplasmas, in order to safeguard those

with whom you have close contact, it would be prudent to do the following: Wash

your hands a lot, never share your food or drink with another, wash eating

utensils with extremely hot water, keep your hands away from your face, avoid

closed-air spaces where air is re-circulated (i.e., offices, airplanes), and use

protective sexual practices.

TREATMENT

If detected early, the diseases associated with invasive mycoplasmal infections

are treatable with long cycles of high-dose antibiotics. (23)(24)(25) Followed

with long cycles of low dose antibiotics. Since the organism is a slow-growing,

intracellular type with a long life cycle, several, long term courses of

antibiotics may be necessary. The infection may need to be treated for several

months or years. (The disease is treated much as Lyme's Disease is treated.) If

a person is taking antibiotics, the testing will not detect the presence of

Mycoplasma in the blood. And, if a person has been taking antibiotics, they must

wait for at least two months, after stopping the antibiotics, for the test to be

accurate.

As yet, we do not know if antibiotics are a cure for Mycoplasma infections.

Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus) has the ability to enter any cell and alter

itself, changing its cellular makeup with every cell division. This may make it

impossible for readily available antibiotics to clear the body of this organism.

(14) Also, one antibiotic may not be appropriate for all species of Mycoplasma.

What we are hoping for is to cause the organism to be diminished or go dormant

until a cure is discovered. To do that, we need to kill as much of the live

organisms from our bodies as possible with the antibiotics. Once our white blood

cells are free of the infection, then they can become healthier and can,

hopefully, do a better job to keep the Mycoplasma under control. This may take

several months or years of antibiotic treatment to accomplish. During this time,

it is important to not stop taking the antibiotic too early, for a relapse is

certain.

IS TREATING MYCOPLASMA INFECTION THE ANSWER TO CURING CFIDS?

The precise nature and cause of CFS/FMS/MCS is not clear at this time. However,

recent studies have shown that several microorganisms may be a factor in CFIDS.

Clinical PCR testing has been positive for all of the human herpes viruses,

particularly Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes Viruses-6, 7 & 8 (HHV-6,

HHV-7, HHV-8). Most recently, organisms like Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

types I and II, the foamy or Spuma virus, and the Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria

have also been demonstrated. (26)

Perhaps with this evidence, it would appear that CFIDS has many causative

organisms? That is a possibility. Researchers studying AIDS have found that

Mycoplasma and HHV-6a may be co-factors for causing AIDS. (14) And, it is

further speculated that this same HHV-6 virus may be a co-factor in CFIDS and

Multiple Sclerosis. Dr.'s Konnie Knox and Carrigan from the Greenfield,

Wisconsin Laboratory (see Mycoplasma Resources), offer some of the most

sophisticated human herpes assays in the world. They have been doing extensive

research into the various forms of human herpes viruses and their effects on the

body. Present in about 98% of the population, HHV-6 remains dormant and harmless

in healthy people. But, when activated (possibly by the Mycoplasma infection),

it can cause a highly dysregulated immune system often resulting in severe

immune suppression. This increases an individuals vulnerability to control

severe infections (such as Mycoplasma). Perhaps, if HHV-6 were a co-factor of

our disease (along with Mycoplasma), it would appear to be best to be tested and

treated for both concurrently, if one is found to be positive.

While the researchers sort out the chicken-or-the-egg, one-organism-one disease,

multi-factor theories, it seems prudent for us to test for and consider treating

the organisms that we can. Especially when, in the case of Mycoplasma, a few

simple antibiotics can bring us so much relief! In the case of a positive test

for HHV-6, there are several new antivirals, i.e., Zovirax or Labucavir that may

be effective.

CONCLUSION

Infection with a Mycoplasma organism appears to cause most of the signs and

symptoms of CFS/FMS/MCS. It can also account for most of the dysregulation of

the immune system and the abnormal immune tests. It seems prudent to be tested

for this organism, and if positive, to be treated with the recommended

antibiotics. Many of us have been ill for 10-20 years and have spent thousands

of dollars on treatments that did nothing. Wouldn't it be a Godsend to have a

treatment that worked?

The treatment course is long term and often difficult for many. And, while we

may not become completely well, there is preliminary evidence that many of us

who are taking the antibiotics are improving! It has certainly been a horrible

disease for the Gulf War Veterans to contract, but for us, the fact that they

did has saved many lives in the CFS/FMS/MCS community!