Mycoplasma Infections + Related Articles

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Mycoplasma Infections

_http://www.desbio.com/mycoplasma-infections.html_

(http://www.desbio.com/mycoplasma-infections.html)

 

For years we in the CFS/FMS/MCS community have 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 Nancy 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. Anderson 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. Nancy 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. Nancy 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 Nancy 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 Nancy 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.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

 

 

The Case for Mycoplasma’s Role as a Cause of Autoimmune Rheumatoid Diseases

by Harold W. Clark, Ph.D.

_http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/The%20Case%20for%20Mycoplasmas%20Role%

20as%20a%20Cause%20of%20Autoimmune%20Diseases.pdf_

(http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/The%20Case%20for%20Mycoplasmas%20Role%20\

as%20a%20Cause%20of%20Aut

oimmune%20Diseases.pdf)

 

The Fungal/Mycotoxin Connections: Autoimmune Diseases, Malignancies,

Atherosclerosis, Hyperllpldemias, and Gout

_http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Fungal-Mycotoxin%20Connection.pdf_

(http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Fungal-Mycotoxin%20Connection.pdf)

 

Cell-Wall Deficient Forms

Mycoplasma Experiments

_http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Mycoplasma%20Experiments.pdf_

(http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Mycoplasma%20Experiments.pdf)

 

Mycoplasmas: The Missing Link in Fatiguing Illnesses

by Michael Guthrie, R.Ph. Mycoplasmas are now said to be contributors, or at

least cofactors, in many conditions, including CFS/CFIDS, fibromyalgia

syndrome (FMS), lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

(ALS), psoriasis, scleroderma, Crohn’s disease, solid cancers, leukemia,

lymphoma, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), asthma, atypical pneumonia,

Sjogren’s

syndrome, interstitial cystitis and Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases.

Mycoplasmas have also been associated with autoimmune diseases that can cause

definite changes in nerve conduction, demyelation (a degenerative process

that erodes away the myelin sheath that normally protects nerve fibers) and

sensitivity.

_http://www.immed.org/infectious%20disease%20reports/reports/Alt[1].Med.Guthri

e.rtf_

(http://www.immed.org/infectious%20disease%20reports/reports/Alt[1].Med.Guthrie.\

rtf)

 

Mycoplasma Literature

Human diseases and conditions that are caused by mycoplasmas, or where

mycoplasmas are a key co-factor therein:

_http://www.lindaemmanuel.com/pdfs/mycoplasma_research.pdf_

(http://www.lindaemmanuel.com/pdfs/mycoplasma_research.pdf)

 

Why I Prescribe Antibiotics

By Gabe Mirkin M.D.

_http://www.immed.org/treatment%20considerations/Why_I_Prescribe_Antibiotics.r

tf_

(http://www.immed.org/treatment%20considerations/Why_I_Prescribe_Antibiotics.rtf\

)

_http://drmirkin.com/morehealth/G221.html_

(http://drmirkin.com/morehealth/G221.html)

 

Signs/Symptoms

Questions

_http://www.immed.org/signsympt.htm_ (http://www.immed.org/signsympt.htm)

 

The Pathogenesis And Treatment Of Mycoplasmal Infections,

by G.L. Nicolson et al.,

_http://www.immed.org/infectious%20disease%20reports/publications/Antimicr[1].

Inf.Dis.N.99.12.rtf_

(http://www.immed.org/infectious%20disease%20reports/publications/Antimicr[1].In\

f.Dis.N.99.12.rtf)

 

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients Subsequently Diagnosed with Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi: Evidence for Mycoplasma species Co-Infections

Garth L. Nicolson,1 PhD, Nancy L. Nicolson, 1 PhD and Joerg Haier,2 MD, PhD

_http://www.immed.org/Fatigue%20Illness/Netal-LymeJCFS_10[1].8.rtf_

(http://www.immed.org/Fatigue%20Illness/Netal-LymeJCFS_10[1].8.rtf)