I realize this discusses the virus Japanese Encephalitis, but it could apply to other viruses.
Minocycline, an antibiotic is being used to treat viruses: Japanese encephalitis virus (JE) and West Nile virus. A new study shows that "minocycline blocks virus-triggered death of brain cells and prevents the activation of substances that damage the brain. ..."
Minocycline has been used for decades to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. It is especially effective against Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus, the most common mycoplasma found in Gulf War Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.
Minocycline is also being used to treat stroke victims and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.
STUDY SUGGESTS ANTIBIOTIC MAY PREVENT DREADED BRAIN FEVER
Two researchers from National Brain Research Center (NBRC) suggest that a common antibiotic called minocycline may prevent children from death due to Japanese encephalitis (JE), or commonly known as brain fever.
Japanese Encephalitis virus is the causative agent for JE. Although there is no consolidated official figure for JE cases in India, a rough estimate would indicate a few thousands fatalities every year.
The team found that minocycline, an USFDA approved drug, often used to treat acne, limits the death by reducing the microglial activation, neuronal death as well as viral replication.
Microglia are cells that act as the "cleanup crew" for the Central Nervous System (CNS). They destroy damaged cells by releasing toxins and engulfing them.
Should they become activated and release their toxins in the CNS, the toxins will kill the healthy neurons critical for normal function of brain.
"Our studies in mice suggest that this antibiotic may be a strong candidate for further consideration as a therapeutic drug in patients with JE" said Anirban Basu, PhD, Staff Scientist and senior author of this work from NBRC, Manesar, Haryana.
The study titled "Minocycline neuroprotects, reduces microglial activation, inhibits caspase-3 induction, and viral replication following Japanese Encephalitis" will be published in the future issue of Journal of Neurochemistry (www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jnc), a journal of the International Society for Neurochemistry.
Previous studies from the same group have shown that following JE there was an increased production of cytokines, proteins that cause inflammation of the brain as well as death of neurons.
This study goes a step further to show that minocycline is helpful in reducing the level of cytokines and neuronal death following JE.
The major finding in this study is that treatment with minocycline provides a complete protection against experimental JE.
Minocycline's neuroprotective action is associated with marked decrease in: 1) neuronal death 2) microgliosis and production of cytokine 3) viral titre.
Furthermore, treatment with minocycline also improves the behavioral outcome following JE.
"The most recent outbreak in Uttar Pradesh (concentrated in and around Gorakhpur belt, August-September, 2005) left behind more than one thousand dead, mostly children below 15 years of age" Dr Basu said.
Vaccine made by Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli is a lyophilized preparation of infected mouse brain tissue. Due to this it is impossible to make it in mass quantity and as expected it is also expensive.
Moreover it is only sixty percent efficacious even after multiple boosters. Dr Basu also noted that multiple boosters not only makes it further expensive but also makes the treatment regime difficult, especially for the follow-up booster doses.
It is also noteworthy to mention that at least in India prevalence of JE is predominantly observed in rural/remote and socio-economically backward parts of the country. As there are multiple pockets of JE epidemic persists in the country, sometimes it is logistically difficult to transport vaccines in larger quantities from CRI to the location of epidemic.
On the other hand minocycline, a tetracycline is easily available in pharmacy or in a primary health care center, in even very rural and remote set up and it is also inexpensive.
"This study has shed more light on the processes that lead to death in children infected with JE virus" Dr Basu said. "We hope that these discoveries will lead to new treatments for JE, which remains a leading cause of death due to encephalitis in entire Asia-Pacific region.
Department of Biotechnology is actively considering a clinical trial to use minocycline for JE patients. In addition to Dr Basu, Manoj Kumar Mishra a graduate student of NBRC is also involved in this study.
This study is funded by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and NBRC is funded by Department of Biotechnology.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Thanks for this article. And, thanks for breaking up the paragraphs.
I really like the neuroprotective aspect of minocycline, but can be toxic to the vestibular (inner / middle ear) system.
Some studies suggest that vitamin B-6 can offer some protection, but I'd sure like to see more about that and, if minocycline is prescribed, also to have with it the oto-protective measure.
I would love to find a way to be able to take it, so I've been on the hunt for a while. I'll come back later and post the studies I've found regarding this. It may be tomorrow, though.
ANTIVERTIGINOUS ACTION OF B-6 ON EXPERIMENTAL MINOCYLINE-INDUCED VERTIGO IN MAN
[Article in German]
Claussen CF, Claussen E. Neurootologie, Universit�ts-HNO-Klinik W�rzburg.
By means of a former investigation it has been proved equilibriometrically that the application of 7 X 100 mg minocycline may induce a central equilibrium dysregulation of the brainstem type.
It was the purpose of this study to further assure that the minocycline induced brainstem vertigo is due to a destabilization of a supervisory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic loop from the archeocerebellum upon the pontomedullary vestibular regulating pathways.
As it is pharmacologically known that pyridoxine is essential for the synthesis of GABA, an inhibitory CNS neurotransmitter, 2 separate double blind trials on 20 healthy young persons each were carried out after the intake of 7 X 100 mg minocycline during 3 days with and without 7 X 40 mg pyridoxine simultaneously.
These trials were checked against an additional placebo or initial non drug investigation. In all the 40 test persons it could be proved that the amount of vertigo and nausea symptoms was increased significantly due to the application of minocycline only.
However, when combining minocycline with vitamin B 6, the vertigo and nausea symptoms as well as the nystagmus signs from the monaural and the binaural vestibular ocular tests as well as the vestibular spinal signs from the craniocorpography recordings of the stepping and the standing procedures were remarkably reduced.
There were no statistical differences between the initial or placebo trials versus the trials with a combination of minocycline with vitamin B 6.
The same holds for the vestibular vegetative reactions, measured by the simultaneous electrocardiography during the vestibular tests. All the equilibriometric tests applied showed a significant destabilization under the influence of a pure minocycline loading.
UTPMID: 3382463 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
I know its sure helping me.
Posted by B R H (Member # 12159) on :
Minocycline is a key antibiotic in the Marshall Protocol. It is used thruout the MP treatment in small (25-100 mg) doses taken only every other day. This treatment has been FAR more effective for me with much less trouble than other protocols.
Posted by jentytib (Member # 14375) on :
I know many of you on here say mino does nothing but for me it was awesome.
I had been taking 600 mgs of Motrin 3 X a day with no benefit for my migraines.
After 2-3 weeks on the mino and they are gone. So are the pins and needles in my legs.
I had a week between antibiotics with nothing and slowly, many Lyme symptoms returned.
I am now on Rocephin and I think will go back on Mino for a few more weeks after the IV therapy.