Universal Virus? - mononucleosis, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis....

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the association between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and various health conditions, particularly Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Research indicates that a viral protein from EBV closely resembles a protein found on the myelin sheath of nerves, leading to immune system confusion. Additionally, EBV has been linked to reduced autophagy and impaired phagocyte function, which correlates with mitochondrial abnormalities in MS patients. The conversation also touches on the role of gut bacteria in chronic fatigue syndrome, emphasizing that while EBV is a significant factor, it is not the sole cause.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) biology
  • Knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pathology
  • Familiarity with mitochondrial function and transport mechanisms
  • Awareness of gut microbiome research and its implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the molecular mimicry mechanism in EBV and MS
  • Explore the relationship between gut bacteria and chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Investigate the role of EBV in lymphomas and leukemias
  • Study mitochondrial biogenesis and its relevance to autoimmune diseases
USEFUL FOR

Healthcare professionals, researchers in virology and immunology, individuals affected by Multiple Sclerosis, and anyone interested in the connections between viral infections and chronic health conditions.

Tom.G
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[edit] forget about chronic fatigue, I remembered it has been tracked to gut bacteria!
[/edit]

Epstein-Barr virus seems to be associated with many conditions. "Associated" is the operative there because almost everyone is a host for Epstein-Barr.

Science News has a somewhat long but quite readable article with some details connecting Epstein-Barr to Multiple Sclerosis.

It turns out that a viral protein is almost the same as a protein on myelin sheath on nerves and brain cells, and in some people, the immune system confuses the nerves for the virus.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/multiple-sclerosis-epstein-barr-virus-vaccines-treatments

Research paper:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17531840/#:~:text=Molecular mimicry occurs when peptides,one specific virus to MS.
 
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Biology news on Phys.org
This was really exciting when it came out. EBV has already been known to reduce autophagy and impair certain phagocytes in vitro and that's correlated with reduction of mitochondrial biogenesis. And it's also established that abnormalities in mitochondrial transport can be seen in MS patients. It'd be really cool for more to be done regarding mitochondrial pathways and comparing MS failure to that of the virus...
 
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Tom.G said:
[edit] forget about chronic fatigue, I remembered it has been tracked to gut bacteria!
[/edit]
Nope.
Gut bacterial flora
a) currently is among the sexiest science (I'd gusstimate place 2 after SARS-Cov-2. So almost everything with multiple possible causes is currently blamed on that, and
b) it's only one thing that might cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Others are CoViD-19, vitamin deficits, medications,...

Tom.G said:
[...] because almost everyone is a host for Epstein-Barr.
[...]
Nope again.
Anti-EBV-anitibodies (AntiEBV IgG) are found only in <80% of the population.

Lastly, EBV is the cause of some / certain lymphoma (might also be leukemia, learned that long ago). If you insist, I'll supply a source, but you can search PubMed on your own, it's publicly accesible, and you shoud find it on your own, it's open access. Look for Review articles.
 
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Godot_ said:
Nope.
Gut bacterial flora
a) currently is among the sexiest science (I'd gusstimate place 2 after SARS-Cov-2. So almost everything with multiple possible causes is currently blamed on that, and
b) it's only one thing that might cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Others are CoViD-19, vitamin deficits, medications,...Nope again.
Anti-EBV-anitibodies (AntiEBV IgG) are found only in <80% of the population.

Lastly, EBV is the cause of some / certain lymphoma (might also be leukemia, learned that long ago). If you insist, I'll supply a source, but you can search PubMed on your own, it's publicly accesible, and you shoud find it on your own, it's open access. Look for Review articles.
Lost a colleague/good guy to Lymphoma.
Diabetes type 1, problems in his 30s, kidney transplant early 40s, lymphoma and dead at 46.
I do not actually know for certain, not the thing you talk about at the funeral.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28089555/
 

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