posted
This info seems very relevant for Babesia. Wonder if Babs has the same RESA protein? I remember the Dr B telling hubby that one reason babs caused symptoms was because it makes the red blood cell membranes stiff and "deformable" -- red blood cells are supposed to be able to fold up so they can go thru the capillaries.
Why Malaria Parasite Affects Red Blood Cells' Deformability Revealed
A study led by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found out why red blood cells start to lose their ability to deform, and squeeze through tiny blood vessels during the first 24 hours of invasion by the malaria-inducing parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
The researchers knocked out the gene for a parasite protein called RESA (ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen), and found that the protein, transferred from the parasite to the cell's interior molecular network, had caused red blood cells to become less deformable.
"This is the first time a particular protein has been shown to have such a large effect on red blood cell deformability," said Subra Suresh, Ford Professor of Engineering and senior author of the study.
According to the researchers, their findings may lead to the development of treatments that target the parasite protein.
The RESA protein has long been suspected to be involved in the early stages of that process. The parasite produces RESA during the first stage of malaria, and then transports it to the cell surface.
During the study, the researchers cloned the parasite, knocked out the gene that produces RESA, and then measured the red blood cells' deformability with "optical tweezers" that use lasers to stretch cell membranes.
The deformability remained normal in red blood cells infected by parasites without RESA during the first 24 hours of infection, while in parasites where RESA was turned back on after being knocked out, it was affected in a manner as though the protein was never knocked out.
"That the deformability changed several-fold was a big surprise," said Suresh.
Published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study also found that RESA has a much greater impact on the deformability of red blood cells at high fever temps than in normal body temperature.
The researchers believe that when RESA travels to the cell membrane, it binds to the cell's cytoskeleton--a scaffolding of proteins that lies just inside the cell membrane.
In future studies, the researchers plan to study the effects of proteins produced by the malaria parasite during later stages of infection. They also plan to look at whether the RESA protein plays any role in why another strain of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, is less lethal than P. falciparum.
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Very interesting!
My momma had maleria. NOT something that you want to have hang around... for sure.
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Not so easy...
Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans.
Culvenor, J. G., K. P. Day, and R. F. Anders. 1991.
Plasmodium falciparum ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen is released from merozoite dense granules after erythrocyte invasion. Infect. Immun. 59:1183-1187.
Fandeur T, Vazeux G, Mercereau-Puijalon O. 1993. The virulent Saimiri-adapted Palo Alto strain of Plasmodium falciparum does NOT express the ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen. Mol Biochem Parasitol 60:241-248.
But....
Cord factor (trehalose 6-6' dimycolate). COAM (chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose), zymosan, glucan, Salmonella enteritidis 11RX and Listeria monocytogenes were found to protect mice against
subsequent infection with Babesia microti, an intra-erythrocytic protozoan parasite.
This protection was not observed after injection of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a viridans group Streptococcus, thioglycollate, or colloidal carbon. All the agents which protect against B. microti have also been reported to induce non-specific protection against experimental tumours. The parasites appear to die inside circulating red cells. This implies that these can exert non-specific protection against this parasite through the mediation of a soluble factor. PMID: 121772
Glucan?
A glucan molecule is a polysaccharide of D-glucose monomers linked by glycosidic bonds. The following are glucans:
cellulose, β-1,4-glucan laminarin, β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucan pullulan, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan starch, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan glycogen, α-1,4- and α-1,6-glucan dextran, α-1,6-glucan lichenin
Bea...D-ribose converts to D- glucose for our brain and D-galactose for our body.
This is what I've been talking about.
Now...add gelatin...good old gelatin...a complete protein.
And get a far infrared sauna.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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Vanilla
Unregistered
posted
Does anyone know if Malaria and Babesia cross test?
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
?
"Antigenic similarities between Plasmodium and Babesia parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa have been previously demonstrated primarily by the serological cross reactivity observed in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test.
We have now studied the antigenic relationship between the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the hemoparasitic agent of cattle, Babesia bovis, using rabbit monospecific antibodies produced against individual culture-derived P. falciparum polypeptides and bovine polyspecific antibodies to B. bovis exoantigens.
These respective antibodies were found to be distinctly cross reactive in the IFA test using infected erythrocytes (squirrel monkey--P. falciparum; bovine--B. bovis) as antigen substrates. Immunofluorescence was shown to be highly specific for parasite surfaces.
Additionally, the degree of reactivity with soluble exoantigens contained in Plasmodium and Babesia culture supernatants was monitored by a two-site enzyme immunoassay employing the cross-reactive antibodies.
Further evidence for antigenic cross reactivity between P. falciparum and B. bovis parasites was shown with the in vitro inhibition assay. Antibodies to P. falciparum and B. bovis were found to be highly inhibitory for the in vitro growth of P. falciparum in human erythrocytes."
"The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) using B. microti parasites as antigen detects antibodies in 88-96% of patients with B. microti infection. IFA antigen slides are prepared using washed, parasitized erythrocytes produced in hamsters. Patients' titers generally rise to greater than or equal to 1:1024 during the first weeks of illness and decline gradually over 6 months to titers of 1:16 to1:256, but may remain detectable at low levels for a year or more. Specificity is 100% in patients with other tick-borne diseases or persons not exposed to the parasite. Cross-reactions may occur in serum specimens from patients with malaria infections, but generally titers are highest with the homologous antigen.
The extent of cross-reactivity between Babesia species is variable. A negative result with B. microti antigen for a patient exposed on the West Coast may be a false-negative reaction for Babesia infection. Individuals whose exposure could have occurred on the West Coast should be tested also for antibodies to the Babesia WA1 species, because of the lack of cross-reactivity with B. microt."
posted
One day while I was at Igenex when I asked about this subject I was told that the tests for the different types/species of Babesia WA1 microti do cross react.
First I was testing posive for WA1 and then negative while on Mepron and now I am reactive to Babesia microti. My LLMD feels it is my same case of Babesia that I had before ever starting treatment and that it is cross testing.
I heard it there - Igenex.... from a very reliable source.
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Brain needs D-galactose.
Body needs D-galactose.
It looks like we need both...however,
"D-Glucose is the principal carbohydrate metabolite in animal nutrition; it is utilized by the tissues, and it is absorbed from the alimentary tract in greater amounts than any other monosaccharide. Glucose could serve satisfactorily in meeting at least 50% of the entire energy needs of humans and various animals."
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Vanilla: One day while I was at Igenex when I asked about this subject I was told that the tests for the different types/species of Babesia WA1 microti do cross react.
First I was testing posive for WA1 and then negative while on Mepron and now I am reactive to Babesia microti. My LLMD feels it is my same case of Babesia that I had before ever starting treatment and that it is cross testing.
I heard it there - Igenex.... from a very reliable source.
What's the difference between the two?
Posts: 310 | From TN | Registered: Jan 2007
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Vanilla
Unregistered
posted
Marnie what is that ? Is it a supplement and what is it for exactly?
In the words of Gilda Radner "Never mind"
I saw your post above and finished reading the whole thing.
I guess it is beta glucan.
How much should one take per day and what form because I know there is more then one?
Any idea why D5W by IV would cause hubby's tremors/myoclonus and freezing-up spells to be much worse?
ER had gotten things calmed down one day last week with IV Ativan and IV Zofran plus a couple of liters of normal saline I think it was. Within about 5 minutes of starting the D5W drip all the goofy symptoms came back. ER doc was confused but agreed to discontinue D5W and tremor etc stopped on their own within about 15 minutes. Doc discharged hubby ASAP while he was stable.
I know some people have advised against using D5W for Lyme patients. I have always used it with hubby's IV antibiotics. A previous PCP said that the D5W would cause the antibiotics to go to the brain better. Any thoughts or opinions?
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
unlike glucose and ribose, galactose, the brain sugar, enters the cells independently of insulin. The galactose is converted quantitatively into glucose, thereby providing sufficient substrate for both biosynthesis ( maintenance of cell structure and for energy metabolism. In this way the harmful decrease in the supply of glucose to the Central Nervous System can be bypassed ---- by taking galactose.
The average intake of galactose is 9 grams (3 grams after each meal) daily.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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