The undetectable infection 101: The battle of the immune system
As I have previously presented, I have shown how streptococcus mitis group can be pathogens. Now, according to the literature, they live on the teeth and are rarely isolated in other locations. So why do all the bowel screens I have seen show streptococcus sanguinis/parasanguinis plus others which may also include lactobacillus, enterococcus and prevotella species? Let us get back to the way it should be ....
Streptococcus that live on your teeth are some of the strongest surface adhesion bacteria in our body. They are also the some of the strongest biofilm formers in our body. That is why we have plaque and tartar build up on our teeth. The streptococcus hang onto the teeth, and others hang onto the strep. When this happens they produce hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen peroxide, otherwise known as bleach. This is probably a good thing for the teeth, the bad thing however is all the lactic acid that these bugs produce from sugars we eat ....
Now these strep bugs on the teeth have a plasmid that is encoded with resistance to penicillin, macrolides and fluroquinolines, plus they are protected from these antibiotics as they are under a hard layer of plaque. So come in penicillin ..... kills off the local flora, Strep mitis has an opportunity to move off the teeth and into the mucous membranes. Once they have done this, they start forming biofilms on the mucous membranes and any enterococcus, staphylococcus, lactobacillus and a couple of others join in ......
This is where the game changes, this causes a change in the ph and oxygen levels, and makes it difficult for any good bacteria in the area to survive. While this is happening it is bombarding the cells they are attached to with hydrogen peroxide. It is at this point if there are any pathogenic traits (they do have extracellular protease) that also starts attacking the cells.
The first line of defense is the cells start firing back hydrogen peroxide, this is supposed to disable the pathogen and make it easier for the immune system to kill the invader. Unfortunately these bacteria metabolise the hydrogen peroxide and it therefore has no effect.
The usual process of pro-inflammatory response happens which then attracts/develops antibodies. The only problem in all this is that I believe the antibodies are developed against our own epithelial cells as they have been made a target by the hydrogen peroxide burst.
The next stage is the attack from the bacteria, they move into the now hole and their skins (LTA) stimulate inflammation, they may also excrete a cytolysin which further damages cells causing more inflammation and the war begins.
As the war rages, the longer it rages, dead bacteria skins enter the bloodstream. Now the literature says 2 things. The first being the skins of Streptococcus (LTA) look exactly the same as the skins of e-coli (LPS) to the body and our immune system. The second thing the literature says is that interleukin-6 mixed with LPS has a toxic effect on the brain causing brain fog and cognitive dysfunction. I believe that the streptococcus LTA would therefore have the same effect.
Now over time the war changes, toxins can enter the bloodstream at any point (doesn't have to be in the gut). But this happening in the gut is worse. The bacteria pump out lactic acid and hydrogen sulphide. This is a neurotoxin and is poisonous to the mitochondria, and the lactic acid causes acidosis. The body is being poisoned by a cocktail of pro and anti inflammatory cytokines, dead bacteria, hydrogen sulphide, lactic acid and anything else that can enter through the damaged mucous membranes.
These pro and anti inflammatory cytokines are great in the short term, but long term they have a nasty affect on the body. As part of this theory I suggest that pro inflammatory cytokines collect in our blood filter organs such as the thyroid, liver, kidneys, pancreas, cartilage and attract the epithelial killing antibodies resulting in the damage and ultimate dysfunction of those organs ...... And in the very long term, the development of cancers, arthritis, alzheimers and the like .......
A couple of things, specifically to do with viruses, I believe you are all right, the viruses are involved, but I suggest they are a catalyst and they further complicate the infection, they may even be the reason for the disruption in the local flora, as has been pointed out viruses increase bacterial numbers in infection (thanks for pointing that out).
Well, I have thrown it out there, my head is on the block :/ but i believe this is true and the way I acquired it, the way it has spread in my family and the fact that abx administered to target these bugs has a profound positive effect gives me the firm belief that this theory is headed in the right direction. ME is an infection from the normal flora .... The undetectable infection.
The next part of the theory, I better address the ladies of the group as these are the most important ones, and yes there is an element of monthly cycles involved and I believe these monthly hormonal changes make it worse ....
Remember where you saw this first......
