Researchers Discover Method to Make Bacteria Harmless

November 12, 2018

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/amp23899109/researchers-discover-method-to-make-bacteria-harmless/

Researchers Discover Method to Make Bacteria Harmless

The newly discovered molecules could bring vitally important in a world of superbugs and ineffective antibiotics.

By Avery Thompson Oct 18, 2018

Ever since the invention of penicillin, doctors have used antibiotics to kill hostile bacteria and end infections, but over the past few decades we’ve seen strains of bacteria that are resistant to all the antibiotics doctors use. These so-called ‘superbugs’ present a serious threat to patients and to the public because we have nothing that can really counter them.

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University may have found a solution to this problem, and it doesn’t involve antibiotics at all. The researchers developed a method to cure sepsis—at least in mice—using small molecules called F12 and F19 to block the bacteria from doing any damage, which doesn’t require any antibiotics at all.

Typical antibiotics work by breaking up bacteria cell walls, which cause those bacteria to fall apart and die. These small F12 and F19 molecules the researchers discovered work a little differently. Instead of killing the bacteria, they bind to one of the bacteria’s proteins that plays an important role in toxin production, rendering it useless. Without that protein, the bacteria are harmless.

In tests in mice, the researchers found that 70 percent of untreated mice with sepsis died, but 100 percent of the mice treated with F12 or F19 survived. In addition, they found that adding those two molecules made regular antibiotics more effective, meaning even severe infections could be treated with a combination of F12 or F19 coupled with a low-strength antibiotic.

But the biggest advantage of F12 and F19 is that they don’t kill or even hurt the bacteria they interact with. The bacteria affected by these two molecules can continue living, but will simply stop producing toxins that make us sick. That means there won’t be any evolutionary incentive for the bacteria to develop resistances to them, which means F12 and F19 will last much longer than any antibiotic.

That’s good news for doctors, who are rapidly running out of ways to treat bacterial infections. It’ll take a long time for F12 and F19 to ever be used in humans, but this early research has some promising results. Perhaps with these two molecules, we might be able to fend off bacteria for a lot longer.

Source: Case Western Reserve University

 

Category:

Activism, research, Treatment

Comments Off on Researchers Discover Method to Make Bacteria Harmless

Thirty Percent Finnish Ticks Carry at Least One Pathogen & Candidas Rickettsia Tarasevichiae Found for the First Time

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30355331

Parasit Vectors. 2018 Oct 24;11(1):556. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3131-y.

Tick-borne pathogens in Finland: comparison of Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus in sympatric and parapatric areas.

Laaksonen M1, Klemola T2, Feuth E3, Sormunen JJ2, Puisto A2, Mäkelä S2, Penttinen R4, Ruohomäki K2, Hänninen J4, Sääksjärvi IE4, Vuorinen I4, Sprong H5, Hytönen J3, Vesterinen EJ4,6.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Almost 3500 tick samples, originally collected via a nationwide citizen science campaign in 2015, were screened to reveal the prevalence and distribution of a wide spectrum of established and putative tick-borne pathogens vectored by Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus in Finland. The unique geographical distribution of these two tick species in Finland allowed us to compare pathogen occurrence between an I. ricinus-dominated area (southern Finland), an I. persulcatus-dominated area (northern Finland), and a sympatric area (central Finland).
RESULTS:
Of the analysed ticks, almost 30% carried at least one pathogen and 2% carried more than one pathogen. A higher overall prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was observed in I. ricinus than in I. persulcatus: 30.0% (604/2014) versus 24.0% (348/1451), respectively. In addition, I. ricinus were more frequently co-infected than I. persulcatus: 2.4% (49/2014) versus 0.8% (12/1451), respectively. Causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, i.e. bacterial genospecies in Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) group, were the most prevalent pathogens (overall 17%). “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae” was found for the first time in I. ricinus ticks and in Finnish ticks in general. Moreover, Babesia divergens, B. venatorum and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” were reported for the first time from the Finnish mainland.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present study provides valuable information on the prevalence and geographical distribution of various tick-borne pathogens in I. ricinus and I. persulcatus ticks in Finland. Moreover, this comprehensive subset of ticks revealed the presence of rare and potentially dangerous pathogens. The highest prevalence of infected ticks was in the I. ricinus-dominated area in southern Finland, while the prevalence was essentially equal in sympatric and I. persulcatus-dominated areas. However, the highest infection rates for both species were in areas of their dominance, either in south or north Finland.

________________

**Comment**

Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae:

Causes human disease and is a new species of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group.  https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1303004

Symptoms:

  • hospitalized with fever
  • asthenia (weakness)
  • anorexia
  • nausea
  • headache
  • eschar (dead tissue that falls off healthy skin)
  • lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
  • meningitis-like manifestations: vomiting, neck stiffness, and Kernig’s sign.
  • Coma, renal dysfunction, respiratory acidosis then developed, and the patient died 4 days after admission to the hospital.
  • Laboratory tests showed a slight increase in the leukocyte count
  • elevated level of aspartate aminotransferase
  • proteinuria
  • increase in the level of cerebrospinal fluid protein and leukocyte count
  • Since none of the patients presented with rash, which is considered to be a typical sign of infections with species of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group their conditions were initially misdiagnosed, and they received penicillin G, leading to a prolonged hospitalization for approximately 20 days.
Babesia venatorum

Causes human disease: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/5/pdfs/12-1034.pdf  B. venatorum was first known as Babesia sp. EU1 and was named after the Latin word for hunter because the first reported infected patients were 2 occupational hunters from Austria and Italy.

Symptoms:

  • irregular fever (38.6°C–41.0°C) for 12 days
  • anemi
  • malaise
  • myalgia
  • fatigue
  • progressive weakness
  • shortness of breath
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis:

Causes human disease:  https://jcm.asm.org/content/48/5/1956.full, and is an uncultured emerging bacterium that is in the family of Anaplasmosis. It’s close relatives Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum selectively infect the professional phagocytes monocytes/macrophages and neutrophilic granulocytes, which suggests that “Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis” may display tropism for leukocytes also.  Until now, no one has been able to grow “Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis”, which explains why  blood cultures remain negative. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297518300027

Symptoms:

  • immunosuppressive conditions
  • haematologic neoplasia
  • fever
  • myalgia (muscle pain)
  • arthralgia (joint pain)
  • Vascular events such as deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolic events, aneurysm and transitory ischemic accidents
  • skin manifestations, such as erythema nodosum or erysipelas-like rashes
  • elevated C-reactive protein levels
  • leukocytosis (neutrophilia) 
  • anemia

Ixodes ricinus tick, a.k.a castor bean tick, or sheep tick info:  http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ixodes_ricinus.pdf  I. ricinus can also transmit a number of pathogens including Babesia divergens (babesiosis), louping ill virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Anaplasma phagocytophila (tick-borne fever of ruminants, human granulocytic anaplasmosis).  Add to this growing list “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae,” a new species of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group.

Ioxodes persulcatus tick, a.k.a. Taiga tick info:  http://www.bristoluniversitytickid.uk/page/Ixodes+persulcatus/25/#.W-mzZREeteI  Transmits Russian Spring-Summer encephalitis and Lyme disease.

Babesia divergens, B. venatorum and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” were reported for the first time from the Finnish mainland.

This article demonstrates why many in “Lyme land” remain ill.

You can’t diagnose what you can’t see, grow, and test for.

Authorities have absolutely no idea what is infecting everyone, and Lyme is only the tip of the ice-berg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Babesia, Lyme, research, Rickettsia, Testing, Ticks

Comments Off on Thirty Percent Finnish Ticks Carry at Least One Pathogen & Candidas Rickettsia Tarasevichiae Found for the First Time

Gestational Lyme & Other Tick-borne Diseases – Dr. Jones

November 11, 2018

Dr. Charles Ray Jones – Rock Star

FB_IMG_1541741969447From left, Sherry Sievewright, Wisconsin Lyme Network, Dr. Charles Ray Jones, Alicia Cashman, Madison Lyme Support Group

Dr. Charles Ray Jones specializes in treating Lyme/MSIDS patients.  He has treated over 12,000 children with Lyme/MSIDS, and spoke recently at the Chicago ILADS convention.

Here is the executive summary of his presentation:

  • Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) can be transmitted via ticks, gestationally, breast milk, and semen (yes, that means sexually).  While there isn’t a large NIH double-blind study, clinically LLMD’s are finding infected couples.  For more data on animals:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/24/pcos-lyme-my-story/  (Scroll down to info on sexual transmission)

 

  • Gustafason & Burgess demonstrated gestational Bb infection in dogs.  Of the inoculated bitches, 80% became infected who then birthed mostly infected pups.1

 

  • A retrospective study showed 480 children with gestational Lyme/MSIDS. Diagnosis was based on clinical physical and history. 3

 

  • About 10% of Dr. Jones’ patients are infected gestationally.

 

  • Two cases of in vitro fertilization caused embryonic infection.

 

  • Mothers not treated resulted in 50% gestational transmission compared to mothers treated with 1 antibiotic resulting in a 25% transmission.  70% of infected mothers reported a difficult pregnancy.  ALL children improved with appropriate antibiotic treatment.  

 

  • Antibiotic treatment for Pregnant mothers:
  1. Amoxil 1000mg every 8 hours
  2. Ceftin 500 mg every 12 hours
  3. Omnicef 300 mg-600mg twice daily
  4. Mepron 750mg twice daily
  5. Zithromax 500mg twice daily
  • Other options for those who can not tolerate oral antibiotics:
  1. Bicillin 1.2 million units IM 1-3 times weekly
  2. Ceftiaxone 2 gms IV daily
  3. Cefotaxime 6 gms daily either continuous infusions or 2gms IV every 8 hours
  • Top 6 gestational Lyme symptoms:
  1. 90% low muscle tone (delays in motor skills, excess flexibility, drooling)
  2. 80% irritability (impulsive, risky behavior, interrupts, anger/mood swings)
  3. 72% fatigue
  4. 69% pain
  5. 60% low grade fevers with pale skin & dark circles under eyes
  6. 50% painful joints with stiffness & decreased range of motion
  • Coinfection rate found in study.3
  1. 30% Bartonella
  2. 20% Babesia
  3. 7% Strep
  4. 6% Ehrlichiosis
  5. 5% Leptospirosis
  • Male Child Case Study Findings.  Daily fevers between 101-102 degrees with severe joint pain, could not process stimuli, and poor muscle control.  Mother was infected with Bb during pregnancy and child had numerous tick bites.  Was initially diagnosed with a virus and was told he’d “grow out of it.”  Grandparents in desperation hired a priest to exorcise him.  Within 3 months of a clinical diagnosis of Bb (Western Blot positive) and multiple TBI’s (Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma) and appropriate antibiotic treatment, he was doing well in school & athletics, and improved on all perimeters.  Treatment is ongoing.

 

  • Gestational treatment options:
  1. Combination of penicillin, cephalosporins, macrocodes, atovaquone (tetracycline, doxycyline & minocycline not usually used in those under 8) 

 

  • A 1995 study by Gardner showed 15% abnormal babies in treated mothers vs 67% of abnormal babies in mothers not treated.4

 

  • A 1989 study by MacDonald showed the following Lyme infection outcomes during pregnancy.5
  1. prematurity
  2. fluid in the brain
  3. blindness
  4. Sudden infant death syndrome
  5. blood infection
  6. Fetal death
  7. cardiovascular system anomalies
  8. growth retardation
  9. respiratory distress
  10. excess of bilirubin in the blood

References:

  1. Gustafson, J.M., E.C Burgess, et al.(1993). “Intrauterine transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs. “Am J Vet Res 54(6): 882-890
  2.  Xiao, J., et al. 2011. “How Different Strains of Parasite Infection Affect Behavior Differently”. Infection and Immunity. March 2011 . Quoted in science daily, March 22, 2011.
  3.  Jones, Charles Ray, Smith, Harold, Gibb, Edina and Johnson, Lorraine JD, MBA, “Gestational Lyme Disease Case Studies of 102 Live Births, Lyme Times, 2005”. 
  4. Gardner, T. (1995). Lyme disease. Infectious disease of the fetus and newborn infant. J. S Remington and J.O Klein. Philadelphia, Saunders. Chapter 11:447- 528. 
  5. MacDonald, A.B. (1989) “Gestational Lyme Borreliosis. Implications for the fetus. “Rheum Dis Clin North Amer 15(4): 657-677. 
  6. Goldenberg, R.L and C. Thompson (2003) “The infectious origin of stillbirth”. Am J Obstet Gynecol 189(#): 861-873.

____________________

More on Pregnancy with Lyme/MSIDS:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/19/33-years-of-documentation-of-maternal-child-transmission-of-lyme-disease-and-congenital-lyme-borreliosis-a-review/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/05/24/new-berlin-mom-given-life-altering-lyme-disease-diagnoses-after-pregnancy/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/15/pregnancy-in-lyme-dr-ann-corson/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/24/congenital-transmission-of-lyme-myth-or-reality/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/26/transplacental-transmission-fetal-damage-with-lyme-disease/  (Great videos here)

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/children/  Great read on Lyme/MSIDS in children.

https://www.lymedisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Image15-Jones-ABT.pdf  “Rationale for Prolonged Antibiotic Therapy in Treating Lyme Disease.”  By Charles Ray Jones, M.D.

Category:

Activism, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Mycoplasma, Pregnancy, Psychological Aspects, research, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Comments Off on Gestational Lyme & Other Tick-borne Diseases – Dr. Jones

Neurological Presentations of Bartonella henselae Infection

November 10, 2018

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30368695/

Neurological presentations of Bartonella henselae infection.

Canneti B, et al. Neurol Sci. 2018.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Neurological symptoms in patients with cat-scratch disease (CSD) have been rarely reported. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of neurological CSD (NCSD) and describe the disease clinical presentation, management and outcome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected patients with a CSD syndrome and Bartonella IgG titers > 1:256. Data regarding epidemiological, clinical, management, and follow-up features were analyzed and discussed. A comparison between NCSD and non-neurological CSD (NNCSD) was established.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine CSD patients were selected. NCSD frequency was 10.25%. No children were found affected in the NCSD group. A 65.7% of NNCSD and the entirety of the NCSD group had a history of cat exposure. Immunosuppression was only present in the NNCSD group (8.6%).

NCSD presentations were as follows:

  1. neuroretinitis (50%)
  2. isolated aseptic meningitis (25%)
  3. isolated optic neuritis (25%)

A greater proportion of patients in the NCSD group had fever and raised levels of acute phase reactants and white blood cells.

  • 85.7% of NNCSD had a complete recovery
  • only 50% of the NCSD patients experienced a full recovery

CONCLUSION: NCSD may be a distinctive group compared to NNCSD due to its later age of presentation, the more intense systemic response, and the poorer outcome.

___________________

**Comment**

This study shows what is being experienced in Lyme-land.  Bartonella is a big player and complicates things exponentially.  This study shows that Bartonella alone is a formidable pathogen.  It doesn’t even consider Lyme Disease as a co-factor but rather studies Bartonella alone.  Together, they are a “one, two punch,” and you are down for the count.  Throw in Babesia, a few viruses, and nematodes (all of which can be transmitted by the same bite of a singular tick) and it becomes pretty evident why patients are not improving – especially on the CDC’s mono therapy of doxycycline.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/30/study-shows-lyme-msids-patients-infected-with-many-pathogens-and-explains-why-we-are-so-sick/

Please notice that only 50% of those with neurological “cat scratch disease,” (NCSD) experienced full recovery.  Imagine the percentage if Lyme was taken into account….

Also, please note the eye involvement (neuroretinitis & optic neuritis).  There are 1,000 other presentations of Bartonella as well.  Almost every patient I work with has NCSD.  Many with severe psychiatric presentations.

More on Bartonella:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/07/bartonella-infectious-endocarditis-associated-with-cryoglobulinemia-multifocal-proliferative-glomerulonephritis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/01/04/endocarditis-consider-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/11/bartonella-henselae-in-children-with-congenital-heart-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/05/skull-infection-due-to-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/23/opthalmic-manifestations-of-bartonella-infection/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/02/neurological-and-immunological-dysfunction-in-two-patients-with-bartonella-henselae-bacteremia/

I could seriously go on to infinity but will stop here.

Category:

Bartonella, Psychological Aspects, research

Comments Off on Neurological Presentations of Bartonella henselae Infection

GLA – What the “Man on the Street” Knows About Lyme Disease

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) and Matthew Morrison (from Glee) take to the streets of NYC to find out what people really know about #Lymedisease.

  1.  While ticks are the accepted transmitters of Lyme/MSIDS, there are other ways to contract it including congenitally & via breast milk.  There is also data suggesting other bodily fluids including semen, vaginal secretions, and urine – not to mention mosquitoes, biting flies, and other biting bugs.

WE NEED GOOD, UNBIASED, RESEARCH IN THIS AREA.

  1. The better question to ask is, “What can you lose with Lyme?” and the answer  – potentially – everything.
  2. Interestingly, Lyme has been around forever:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/12/the-persistent-spiral-the-ancient-history-of-lyme-disease-and-tick-borne-infections/ and was found in Otzi, the oldest European mummy.
  3. Lyme disease is a PANDEMIC.  And it’s not going away.
  4. While dogs are “tick taxi’s,” cats, along with about every single mammal carry Bartonella, a huge player in Lyme/MSIDS.  I predict much more on Bart will be discovered shortly.
  5. Education needs to emphasize that ticks carry numerous pathogens.  The symbiotic relationship between them is one reason many remain ill:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/30/study-shows-lyme-msids-patients-infected-with-many-pathogens-and-explains-why-we-are-so-sick/  The one germ, one drug paradigm does not work here.
  6. While tick testing is an interesting and educational endeavor, you should be seen immediately by a Lyme literate doctor if you ever find an attacked tick. Please do not take the CDC’s “wait and see” approach.  It’s not worth the risk. Few states have free tick testing and it typically costs $50 or more per tick. If it were me, I’d demand prophylactic treatment.  Trust me.  You don’t want this.

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Testing, Ticks

Comments Off on GLA – What the “Man on the Street” Knows About Lyme Disease