SOC
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I just happened across these while looking at the HHV-6 Foundation website for something else and thought others might be interested in digging into them further.Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have reported that a set of novel methylenecyclopropane (MCP) nucleoside analogs, synthesized by Microbiotix, Inc., have shown increased activity against a broad spectrum of human herpesviruses. The new agents are derivations of the compound cyclopropavir (CPV), currently in human phase I clinical studies, which has previously been shown to exhibit good antiviral activity against human beta-and gamma-herpes viruses, including HCMV, EBV, HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-8. In addition, all but one of the new analogs had potent anti-viral activity against HHV-6B that was greater than that of cidofovir (CDV).
Furthermore, some of the new analogs have demonstrated an even broader spectrum of anti-herpes activity, with significant inhibition of the alpha-herpes viruses HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV as well.
A new group of antiherpetics (antivirals against herpesviruses) that addresses the entire class (rather than only alphas or betas or gammas) could be a huge boon for ME/CFS patients. The fact that it's already in Phase 1 trials gives hope for a new treatment sooner than 10-15 years out.
Dr. Jussi Oskari Virtanen, who works in Steve Jacobson’s laboratory at the NINDS, has published findings that further strengthen the relationship between HHV-6, EBV, and multiple sclerosis. The report demonstrates that 24% of 37 CSF samples from MS patients had HHV-6 reactive oligoclonal bands (OCBs) and 14% had EBV OCBs, compared to none in patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases (p=0.005). In addition, brain imaging analysis also showed that MS patients with viral DNA detected in the CSF exhibited more brain contrast enhancing lesions (CELs) than those who were virus-negative.
A new study from NIH/NINDS further strengthens the relationship between HHV-6, EBV, and multiple sclerosis.The authors of the study point out that several previous publications have identified OCBs reactive to HHV-6, EBV, and c. pneumonia in the spinal fluid of MS patients.
As an ME/CFS patient with (at one time) active hhv6, ebv, and c. pneumonia infections, I find this interesting. This is not a completely unusual combination of viruses in ME/CFS, so I wonder if there is a closer association among a subset of PWME and MS than has been believed.
We desperately need more research into the CSF of ME/CFS patients.