Topic: Mycoplasma old artical but very Interesting
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Mycoplasma
Today, there are a vast number of "symptom-set" disease labels/names that curiously enjoy "unknown" and/or disputed etiology. Variable of these diagnosis have been afforded to millions and millions of patients although symptoms can overlap such that there are not always clear distinctions between one condition and another. Examples of these illnesses include, but are not limited to, conditions such as chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, auto-immune disorders (lupus, multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's Disease/ALS), arthritis, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, epstein-barr virus (chronic), CMV, HHV-6, sarcoidosis, creutzfeldt-jakob disease including the new-variant, mad-cow disease, stevens-johnson syndrome, meningitis, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, "idiopathic" cd4 positive t-lymphocytopenia (aka HIV-negative AIDS), crohns disease, cancers, lymphoma, leukemia, encephalopathies, pelvic inflammatory disease, allergies, asthma, sjogren's syndrome, somatization, chronic mononucleosis, scle roderma, interstitial cytitis, and alzheimers. Interestingly, all of these conditions can be caused by one peculiar species of contagious pathogen, mycoplasma.
A mycoplasma is a pathogen that infects plants, animals and humans, and it is not a bacteria or virus. Rather, a mycoplasma is a member of the mollicute family, having no cell-wall, and is characterized as a virus-like infectious agent, somewhere in-between a virus and bacteria in complexity. Mycoplasmas have been around for a very-long time - way before the persian gulf war conflict.
Susceptibility to particular mycoplasma subtypes/isolates can depend on a genetic component known as histocompatibility antigen. Therefore, horizontal transmission (for example, un/related roommates) may fail notwithstanding casual or intimate contact.
SPECIATE There are hundreds of different mycoplasma subtypes and numerous isolates (strains) within any given subtype. As an example, there is a mycoplasma subtype known as mycoplasma arthritidis which can cause the disease arthritis, also a multi-billion dollar industry. Although currently withheld from the patient and mainstream physician communities, the intimate fellowship of mycoplasmologists - which includes numerous current or previous military contractors - employ unpublished algorithms that can be used to speciate (ascertain subtype/strain) mycoplasmas. A partial list of mycoplasmas can be obtained from the American Type Culture Collection on-line catalog at URL www.atcc.org under the category of bacteria.
Mycoplasmas can cause numerous and various pathogenic mechanisms including extragenital systemic infection, production of superantigens, abnormal stimulation of cytokines such as interleukin-2, generation of toxic oxygen radicals which contribute to the oxidative stress observed in infected individuals (antioxidants such as vitamin E and others can help with this problem), development of lesions in the heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs, induction of apoptosis (aka programmed cell death), aphthous ulcerations, thrombocytopenia, central nervous system disease, problems with cell-mediated immunity, and numerous other destructive actions.
Central Nervous System
Mycoplasmas can target the host white blood cells (lymphocytes/WBC) for intracellular infection, and these cells have the unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier over into the spinal fluid and thereby carry their deadly mycoplasma payload into the host central nervous system (CNS). As a result, mycoplasmas can produce brain abscess and CNS lesions such as spinal-cord syrinx (fistula) which can be detected by way of appropriately tailored magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.
HPA Axis
Once inside the host CNS, certain pathogenic mycoplasmas have been reported to activate the CNS hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands form part of the human endocrine system which produces (steroid) hormones that regulate nearly every bodily function, including hyperactivity, and the hypothalamus lies proximate to the limbic system which is much investigated as the physiological/psychological threshold of human beings.
Proteinase K-Resistant Proteins
The proteinase K-resistant proteins are associated with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, scrapie, so-called 'mad-cow disease' and the new-variant of creutzfeldt-jakob disease (CJD) which surfaced subsequent to the Persian Gulf War. Proteinase K-resistant proteins have been identified in certain of the pathogenic mycoplasmas, and are mechanistic to a horrifying pathology including abnormal protein deposits throughout the host central nervous system, spongiform changes in the CNS tissues, impaired cognition, myoclonic jerking (violent jerking of the body during or while moving into an attempted sleep-cycle), 'brain-fog' and eventually dementia and death.
Cell-Mediated Immunity
Mycoplasmas have a special interaction with the lymphoreticular system in that they are immunomodulating pathogens that can compromise cellular immunity, otherwise known as your T-lymphocytes. In the case of the T-Suppressors (T8), they will move towards a high index due to an infection with mycoplasma hominis, whereas the T-Killers (T3) will considerably decrease in a natural proceeding of mycoplasmosis. In addition to these changes in absolute lymphocyte sub-populations, natural killer cell function will deteriorate as result of extended systemic mycoplasma infection.
Markers For Immunity
When cellular-immunity becomes compromised, certain ubiquitous and ordinarily latent pathogens, such as the herpes viral family (epstein-barr, CMV, HHV-6 and others), have the ability to proliferate to detectable levels. As such, numerous misinformed and/or unethical health care providers are diagnosing epstein-barr or CMV when, in actuality, these pathogens are only symptoms (markers for immunity) of an underlying mycoplasma infection.
Cancer
In a dangerous 'mouse-trap' interrelationship, a number of the ordinarily latent pathogens are independently carcinogenic. As an example, epstein-barr virus has been linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphoma. Therefore, what begins as systemic mycoplasma infection can trigger immunological problems which will indirectly lead to cancers through the proliferation of these herpes and other pathogens unchecked by cellular immunity. In addition, certain mycoplasmas will directly cause induction of multistage oncogenic processes leading to chromosomal alteration (cancer - multibillion/$ industry).
Humoral
The humoral immune response, otherwise referred to as the antibody response, may not be measurable during systemic mycoplasma infection until a patient is nearing death. This is because mycoplasmas can evade detection by the immune system (and thereby cause a characteristically chronic illness) through various mechanisms including antigenic surface variation and molecular mimicry. Also, the absolute sub-population of B-lymphocytes will be observed to increase as a result of a systemic mycoplasma infection.
Interpolation
Since mycoplasmas carry ribosomal genes, therefore indicating that they are not viruses at all (but a prokaryote), they have been ambiguously deemed a virus-like infectious agent. Nontheless, certain mycoplasmas have the ability to interpolate themselves into host DNA and inhibit normal DNA to messenger-RNA transcription and cause messenger-RNA translation to abnormal protein antigens. This results abnormal intracellular proteins (and proteins are the building blocks of the cell), immune dysregulation and abnormal cytokine production. Furthermore, this dna-recombinent issue may (unless confined only to the WBC fraction) implicate some very serious limitations from a therapeutic cure standpoint, including sophisticated gene-therapy techniques which are unavailable to regular individuals outside the military/medical/industrial complex.
gp120
Indicating a calculated laboratory engineering to make these pathogens more invasive and/or deadly, some mycoplasmas are being detected with unusual DNA sequences, such as the HIV-1 envelope gene which codes for a surface glycoprotein, gp120, that is involved in pathogen attachment and entry into cells. Specifically, the gp120 recognizes receptors on the lymphocytes and other cell surfaces which can result in opportunistic cell attachment and penetration . Since the receptor recognized by gp120 is present on many cell types, these modified mycoplasmas could be capable of invading most body tissues with unprecedented associated morbidity.
Disturbingly, the 'mad scientists' and other dark persons can immunize themselves against engineered mycoplasma diseases which will play havock with the remainder of the world's population. Mycoplasmas will not interfere with the immune response when exposure occurs after primary immunization.
SYMPTOMS From a clinical standpoint, the many different mycoplasma subtypes/isolates can cause a wide variety of symptomalogies depending upon such things as the patient and degree of infection. Some of the more pathogenic mycoplasmas, which can cause fulminate illness, include subtypes hominis, fermentans (incognitus), pirum, genetalium, pneumoniae and penetrans.
Acute/Primary
Acute/primary systemic mycoplasma infection can present with numerous and various life-threatening symptoms such as (night) sweats, neuropathy, rash (cheeks, trunk, etc.), pharyngitis, sleep disorder, heart palpitations, sensation of terror and/or irritability (hypothalamus controls emotions such as rage, fear and pleasure), muscle and joint pain, sensory and reflex hypersensitivity (e.g. sound intolerance), parkinsons-like twitching, motor disorder, adenopathy, confusion and anxiety, coagulated ejaculate, spleenomegaly, bleeding gums, rapid weight-loss, nausea, racing metabolism (thyroid/endocrine), sepsis (overwhelming infection), diarrhea and bowel disorder, shaking, weakness, temperature fluctuations, chills, drooling, blurred vision, metallic taste in mouth, numbness in extremities and back of head during attempted sleep, crippling spine, neck and back pain, difficulty turning neck, skin irritated by fabric coverings, and elevated herpes antibody titers. However, the onset of mycoplasma infection can be insidious and/or localized (for example, arthritis or confined to the uro-genital tract as with pelvic inflammatory disease) depending on the particular mycoplasma subtype and isolate involved.
Chronic
In addition to certain of the primary symptoms, the chronic state clinical picture often includes learning disability, cognitive disorder, memory loss, fatigue, myoclonus, abdominal pain, painful granulomas under armpits, rib malformation and prominence above spleen in young children, 'allergic shiners' (dark circles under the eyes), chostochonderitis (inflamed sternum/cartilage), headaches, nose-bleeds, hair loss, bone pain from metastasize, stammering, stunted growth, bruises, central nervous system disease, cancers (glioma, blastoma, etc.), and organ failure. Absent therapy, the (not so) long-term pattern is calculated to result death.
Hallmark
One hallmark symptom of systemic mycoplasma infection, which results from abnormal stimulation of cytokines, involves a chronic red discoloration of the anterior pharyngeal pillars. Often referred to as 'crimson crescents,' this phenomenon can be easily detected by a patient with a flash-light and mirror; Standing in front of the mirror with your mouth open wide, you can point the flash-light into the mirror so that the beam will reflect back into your pharynx. On either side of your throat, behind the molars and in front of the tonsils, the crescents are an intense crimson color and are well demarcated along the margins of both anterior pharyngeal pillars. In patients without tonsils, the crimson crescents assume a posterior position in the oropharynx.
Children
In the case of small children, the communication cycle is not functionally developed to the point where these symptoms (especially the central nervous system symptoms) can be well articulated. Often, crying is the only way for a child to indicate that something is physiologically wrong. Furthermore, mycoplasma infections can simulate numerous nonspecific childhood illnesses - such as foot and mouth disease, flu, stomatosis, roseola, fifths disease, and otitis media - that can be readily misdiagnosed by a pediatric practitioner.
Consistent with germane literature and expert opinion, the proper approach to overcoming systemic mycoplasma infection will depend on the characteristics of the specific mycoplasma pathogen involved, and many cases will respond to a combined antibiotic/steroid treatment protocol, naturopathic, and avoidance components.
Antibiotic/Steroid
Where a mycoplasma pathogen targets host WBC for infection, the disease can initiate a vicious cycle of immunological dysregulation where the lymphocytes actually start replicating and attacking themselves for being infected with the immunomodulating mycoplasmas. In order to break the vicious cycle, and return the body to a state of peace - known in medical terms as homeostasis - mycoplasma disease therapy research implicates utilization of combined antibiotic/steroid treatment protocols.
Protocol
Unlike viruses, which do not respond to antibiotic treatment, mycoplasmas are susceptible to antimicrobal therapy on a long-term protocol basis. With an appropriate course and brand of antimicrobal therapy (where an entire year or two would not be atypical), immunocompetent (HIV-negative) mycoplasma patients can revert back to a mycoplasma negative phenotype and permanent asymptomatic status. Of course, detecting the infection early - such as during the overwhelming acute infection known as sepsis - would require minimal treatment duration relative to a patient that first endured years of illness before being correctly and honestly diagnosed.
Chloramphenicol
Across the board, the antibiotic chloramphenicol is on the list of preferred antibiotics for treatment of systemic mycoplasma infections. However, some physicians may be reluctant and/or unable to prescribe this medicine since it is associated with an idiosyncratic and/or dose-dependent blood dyscrasia (aplastic anemia) that runs at about a 1:30K risk. Nothwithstanding, chloramphenicol is used widely in other countries, it is available over-the-counter in Mexico pharmacies, it is not a controlled substance, and it is approved for use in the United States.
Customs
Customs, which provides the function of enforcing FDA law at our country's boarders, will generally not allow international travelers to bring back a personal supply of medicine unless the product is for continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country, or is prescribed by a responsible United States physician.
Antibiotic
Other candidate antibiotics that have demonstrated efficacy against extragenital mycoplasma infections include doxycycline, minocycline, zithromax, rifampin, gentamicin, the lincosamides, trovafloxacin (hominis) and sparfloxacin. All of these antimicrobals are approved for use in the United States.
Resistance
Of course, resistance is the ongoing background issue which constantly needs to be ascertained to achieve any clinical benefit and, where culture techniques are ineffective due to the fastidious nature of a mycoplasma strain, anti-microbal sensitivity determinants can be ascertained on a dna-amplification basis. Although currently withheld from the patient and mainstream physician communities, the intimate fellowship of mycoplasmologists maintain unpublished databanks on mycoplasma subtype/isolate antibiotic sensitivity - including for 'investigational' antimicrobals which are typically unavailable notwithstanding a prescription.
Penicillins
Since mycoplasmas have no cell-wall, penicillins are contraindicated and will actually exacerbate the clinical picture.
Nystatin
For those individuals who are responding favorably to nystatin therapy for a purported candida albicans infection, realize that nystatin is a polyene macrolide which does show activity (although weak) against some mycoplasma subtypes. Therefore, any favorable clinical response may actually be against a mycoplasma pathogen rather than any systemic yeast problem.
Steroid
In addition to their role on the structural interrelationships between mycoplasma infection and the endocrine system/hormone, steroids (such as dexamethasone) suppress the immune system's proliferation of white blood cells and thereby starve mycoplasmas which target those WBC for infection. Among other promising immunomodulators, bacterial polysaccharides from clavibacter michiganense (potato ring rot) has been reported to correct the T8 and T3 (cell-mediated) irregularities otherwise associated with a natural proceeding of mycoplasmosis.
Naturopathic
From a naturopathic standpoint, various American bio-technology patents reflect that certain mycoplasma infections can be addressed with tea polyphenols, and sulfatides (hominis). Other reported alternative treatments include the heavy metals (such as colloidal silver, gold, lead, and mercury), and a carbohydrate substrate known as arbutin which breaks down to hydroquinone. Arbutin can also be found in the medicinal herb uva ursi.
Free Radicals
Since mycoplasmas generate toxic oxygen radicals which contribute to the oxidative stress observed in infected individuals, generalized antioxidants (such as vitamin E and C) do have a role in management of the mycoplasma infection symptoms. However, they will not cure and/or eradicate the underlying mycoplasma disease.
Avoidance
Cholesterol and the amino acid arginine, which is commonly found in chocolate, stimulate growth of mycoplasmas and should be avoided at all costs. However, there is a strain of mycoplasma hominis which has been given the ability to produce arginine as a characteristic mechanism of the disease; As such, this pathogenic strain can 'whip itself into a froth' notwithstanding the careful avoidance of arginine by a patient.
Mycoplasmas lack the genes required for lipid synthesis; therefore it is imperative that all fat be eliminated from the diet in order for the therapeutic protocols to have efficacy.
Stress
Additionally, psychological stress should be avoided since it is known to contribute to progression of mycoplasma disease; Since the mycoplasma pathogen infects the central nervous system, this intersection presents a vicious physiological/psychological circle which can often lead to suicide. Of course, it is not suprising that mycoplasma patients are often misdiagnosed as somatization or, in the case of the gulf war veterans, post traumatic stress disorder.
Air Travel
Mycoplasma grows well at low-pressure (high altitude) conditions. Therefore, it is advisible to avoid unecessary airline travel while infected with this disease.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Various American bio-technology patents reflect that certain mycoplasma infections can be addressed with a sophisticated derived blood product, monoclonal antibodies.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
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