"Some cell wall constituents released by Borrelia burgdorferi (the organism causing Lyme disease), such as lipopolysaccharides, belong to the class of TI-1 antigens. After successful elimination of TI-1 antigens, each new encounter with them produces an immune response identical to the preceding one, i.e. there is no immune memory of a previous encounter. This might lead to a chain of periodic immune responses that continues as long as there is a persistent source of antigen in the host."
It has been shown that B. burgdorferi has developed strategies to survive the attack of the immune system and of antibiotics in what might be called "generalized niches" [e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5]. Any such niche might act as the mentioned source in chronic Lyme.
Thus, like in other areas of medicine, an intervention that clinically monitors patients' reactions and adjusts therapy accordingly is likely to be more effective than the "one size fits all" standard approach - advocated in Lyme by the scientific advisors of the OPMC [6].
Respectfully yours,
Joachim Gruber
http://www.lymenet.de/aktive/nysassembly.htm
And this could actually be predicted if you look at relapsing fever, caused by another borrelia species.
Lipopolysaccharides are generally agreed to be absent in borrelia and treponema.
But this still does not negate the idea of antigenic variation defeating the immune system. There are plenty of medical journal articles on this subject, for lyme and other organisms, like the relapsing fever germ. That is really what I was saying.
[This message has been edited by lou (edited 16 July 2005).]
i'm not literate in German, but i've struggled to interpret the material with a dictionary and my mom's German lang. text.
Next, i'll learn the cuss words in between the brain fog and the herxes.
Much can be understood.
excellent site
[This message has been edited by pq (edited 16 July 2005).]
[This message has been edited by pq (edited 16 July 2005).]