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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential connections between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and various health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), and certain lymphomas. Participants explore the implications of EBV's role in these conditions, the influence of gut bacteria, and the complexities of immune responses.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that EBV is associated with multiple conditions, noting its potential role in MS due to molecular mimicry with myelin sheath proteins.
  • One participant highlights the correlation between EBV's effects on autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, proposing further research into mitochondrial pathways in relation to MS.
  • Another participant challenges the notion that chronic fatigue is primarily linked to gut bacteria, arguing that it is one of many potential causes, including COVID-19 and vitamin deficiencies.
  • There is a contention regarding the prevalence of anti-EBV antibodies, with one participant stating that they are found in less than 80% of the population.
  • Concerns are raised about the serious implications of EBV, including its association with certain lymphomas and leukemia.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of EBV and gut bacteria in chronic fatigue and other conditions. There is no consensus on the primary causes of chronic fatigue syndrome or the extent of EBV's impact on health.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various studies and articles to support their claims, but there are unresolved questions regarding the definitions and relationships between the discussed conditions and the viruses involved.

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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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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