As reported yesterday 8/31/10 in Retrovirology, researchers are seeing some success in having XMRV retrovirus react to HIV Anti-retroviral drugs for CFS. (Sorry if the link will not work. It seems to be functioning hit or miss from their end, but the information is included below. Keep reading.)
Do their conclusions mean you should spend money to get tested for XMRV right now? Probably not. Do they mean that you should consider taking anti-retroviral drugs? Truly, no. Their conclusions are not that well-defined. Not yet.
Even so… no one can walk in someone else’s shoes to feel their desperation or fading hope, but truly this seems like a premature action to me. I urge you to wait for science to catch up with the news and expectations. We will eventually have a clear picture of XMRV, but unless you want to chase every possible scenario out there, it is more prudent to wait.
(See the abstract below.)
Abstract (provisional)
Background
XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) is the first known example of an exogenous gammaretrovirus that can infect humans. A limited number of reports suggest that XMRV is intrinsically resistant to many of the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV-1 infection, but is sensitive to a small subset of these inhibitors. In the present study, we used a novel marker transfer assay to directly compare the antiviral drug sensitivities of XMRV and HIV-1 under identical conditions in the same host cell type.Results
We extend the findings of previous studies by showing that, in addition to AZT and tenofovir, XMRV and HIV-1 are equally sensitive to AZddA (3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine), AZddG (3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine) and adefovir. These results indicate that specific 3′-azido or acyclic nucleoside analog inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) also block XMRV infection with comparable efficacy in vitro. Our data confirm that XMRV is highly resistant to the non-nucleoside RT inhibitors nevirapine and efavirenz and to inhibitors of HIV-1 protease. In addition, we show that the integrase inhibitors raltegravir and elvitegravir are active against XMRV, with EC50 values in the nanomolar range.Conclusions
Our analysis demonstrates that XMRV exhibits a distinct pattern of nucleoside analog susceptibility that correlates with the structure of the pseudosugar moiety and that XMRV is sensitive to a broader range of antiretroviral drugs than has previously been reported. We suggest that the divergent drug sensitivity profiles of XMRV and HIV-1 are partially explained by specific amino acid differences in their respective protease, RT and integrase sequences. Our data provide a basis for choosing specific antiretroviral drugs for clinical studies in XMRV-infected patients.
Best wishes for your speedy recovery from CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
{ 1 trackback }
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Sharon 09.02.10 at 11:50 am
We sick need to get the information on this new family of viruses OUT into the public, the senior policy makers, researchers, doctors, journalists, etc. Although this Retrovirus is out in the news, the public does not fully understand what the real consequences and complications of this possibly deadly virus really are. They don’t understand that 7% of the healthy US population means that there is about 20 million healthy (now) carriers who have been donating blood and that our nation’s blood supply has been contaminated for over 30 years or more. The public also does not understand that this virus is possibly so contagious that it can be “caught” via airborne in addition to contact, mother’s milk, etc. This is a true and deadly epidemic and the CDC has done everything possible to kill off all Retrovirus research going back three decades and even NOW.
Please see the link below and read what is going on. We need members and we need donations to get that 1/2 page Washington Post Advert that explains what is going on and hits the senior policy makers, public, and all others so that we get attention, funding, research, clinical studies and immediate assistance for our very sick. Thank you – Sharon
————————————————————————-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2010
ME/CFS Worldwide Patient Alliance
Patient-driven Public Awareness Group
http://www.causes.com/causes/511536?m=f042604e (Join and Donate to a 1/2 page Advert in the Washington Post on the lack of attention, funding, research for ME/CFS/Gulf War – Neuroendocrine/immune disorders)
Tina Tidmore
205-680-6890
editor@claynews.net
Protect from Infectious Virus, Act Now
Clay, AL—No one would wish a debilitating neuroimmune disease on their worst enemy. Chronic fatigue syndrome patients are concerned that a recently-published study suggests a family of retroviruses, murine leukemia virus-related viruses, are in the nation’s blood supply at a rate of 7%. Reference Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 24, 2010.
The ME/CFS Worldwide Patient Alliance applauds the National Institutes of Health and FDA for their responsible study that confirms the strong association between a family of XMRV-related viruses and chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, at a rate of 87%. This serves as a pivotal time that calls for a change from paltry research in the last twenty-five years of an illness that now disables millions worldwide.
“My H.I.V. patients for the most part are hale and hearty, thanks to three decades of intense and excellent research and billions of dollars invested. Many of my C.F.S. patients, on the other hand, are terribly ill and unable to work or participate in the care of their families.” Dr. Nancy Klimas, Director of Research for the Clinical AIDS/HIV Research at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New York Times, October 15, 2009
As each day passes, more Americans with ME/CFS lose their jobs, their social activities and their health. A large majority of them will not recover based on the current lack of effective treatments.
We call for government-funded anti-retroviral treatment clinical trials now.
We call for aggressive scientific studies to protect the nation’s blood supply.
In the words of University of Alberta professor, Andrew Mason, “If the patients improve, after a certain point you stop debating whether it causes the disease and say, the treatment works and we’re going to use it.” Washington Post, August 24, 2010
The possible threat to the public health in this case is as real as the disability with the illness. This is the time to be proactive.
ME/CFS Worldwide Patient Alliance is a group of patients who have launched an ME/CFS public awareness campaign from the patient perspective.
# # #
For more information, contact Sharon Stapleton at luvpuggles@hotmail.com OR Tina Tidmore at editor@claynews.net.
See: http://www.causes.com/causes/511536 for information on all aspects of this major media campaign.
Cinda Crawford 09.02.10 at 2:41 pm
Sharon, thank you for your reply and the great information. If XMRV turns out to be the epidemic that it is threatening to be, this is a horrible situation of “epic” portions! No need for disaster movies here… we’ll be living in one.
It will affect us in similar fashion to the time when scientists were experimenting with and producing the original polio vaccines in monkey tissues. Because they used monkey tissues to “make” the vaccine, they subjected every person who got the resulting polio vaccine (virtually everyone) to an addition to their human DNA genome of SV-40 (Simian Virus-40). We’re part monkey now! The SV-40 virus resides within probably 99% of all people alive on the planet today. It’s sad, but when science is not vigilant, because of error or from lack of forethought and vision, we the people suffer. How much in the case of XMRV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? We’ll have to hang on to find out. I’ll be keeping up with your movement and efforts, Sharon. Thanks for what you’re doing. ~~ Cinda
PS- tomorrow I’m blogging on the 10 biggest Fibromyalgia fears. In many ways, almost the same wording applies to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, except in this case we would have to add a #11: Fear of government entities and powers that are NOT doing their jobs!
Sharon 09.02.10 at 3:47 pm
Thanks Cinda for a really great job!!!
The CDC/CFS is looking for a new CDC/CFS director. Info on this $200K job is provided here. We need a smart outsider to really get the research done on CFDIS/FM (I have both). See: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=90144747&FedEmp=Y&FedPub=Y&sort=rv,-dte
–Requirements are either Phd (social sciences/public health) or MD (not specific, just MD) and then rather weak requirements. So you see that the CDC just doesn’t really care who they get. Given the short timeline we all believe they have someone ready to go and from within the CDC. This is not good as that person will come with negative bias against CFS/ME/FM.
Spread the word if you know someone who is good and really understands CFS/FM and retroviruses – We need someone who will do the job and not the cover-up!!! Thanks – Sharon.
Job Title: Chief, Chronic Viral Diseases Branch
Department: Department Of Health And Human Services
Agency: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Job Announcement Number: AD10-10-031
SALARY RANGE: $118,846.00 – $199,700.00 /year
Executive level compensation package is commensurate with qualifications and experience, which may result in a higher salary than reflected above.
OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, August 19, 2010 to Friday, September 17, 2010
Department Of Health And Human Services
4770 Buford Hwy
MS K07; Attn: Anita Gregoire
Atlanta, GA 30341
US
Questions about this job:
Atlanta Human Resources Center
Phone: 770-488-1796
Email: seniorpositions@cdc.gov
Job Announcement Number:
AD10-10-031
Control Number: 1948398
Cinda Crawford 09.02.10 at 6:33 pm
Boy, don’t we need a good person to step up to the plate of this job! Good deal posting this info, Sharon. Thanks, Cinda