Journal of IiME Volume 5 Issue 1 (May 2011) PRESENTERS at the 6th INVEST in ME INTERNATIONAL ME/CFS CONFERENCE infection of the B-cell lineage. Since viral load in peripheral blood is low, these data suggest that B cells in tissues such as spleen and lymph nodes could be an in vivo reservoir for XMRV. In addition, we have identified an inflammatory cytokine and chemokine signature that distinguishes XMRV infected CFS patients from healthy controls with 94% sensitivity and specificity; an XMRV patient population with aberrant methylation profiles consistent with a gammaretroviral infection and a XMRV infected patient population with high nagalase activity. This particular population of XMRV infected patients has responded favorably to treatment with the immune modulator GcMAF. Additional populations of XMRV infected CFS patients have responded favorably to antiretroviral therapy and another population has responded favorably ton the immune modulator AmpligenTm . Monitoring XMRV viral load, co-infecting pathogens and immune dysfunction affords the opportunity to begin to understand the clinical implications of XMRV/HGRV infection. Dr. Wilfried Bieger Dr. Wilfried Beiger is a docent of Medicine in private practice at Applied Immunology Clinic in Munich, Germany. Dr Bieger has been performing a study in co- operation with researchers from Heidelberg University to test German ME patients for XMRV. Abstract I will present the results of cooperative efforts undertaken together with Prof. M. Kramer and Prof. R. Wallich from University of Heidelberg in detecting XMRV in German CFS patients. The patients were recruited from all over Germany with a majority in Bavaria. So far, we tested about 80 patients fulfilling all Fukuda criteria for CFS, starting in November 2010 after about 8 months of work to set up a highly sensitive, specific and uncontaminated assay protocol for virus detection in blood. Major advice throughout the experimental period came from J Mikovits who was extremely helpful with methodical advice and testing of parallel samples including sequencing of XMRV specific viral DNA sections. We have also set up a western blot technique for XMRV antibody testing. Blood was taken at my clinic in München and sent directly by mail to the laboratory. We used both heparin and EDTA-blood in the first time but switched over to EDTA alone, which gave better, i.e. more positive results. We could not find viral DNA or RNA in fresh samples except one, but had to cultivate the PBMC for up to 6 weeks under stimulating conditions and partly during coculture with virus permissive LnCap cells. After 2 weeks of culture cells began to turn positive in some patients and continued to display virus for the next weeks. The presence of XMRV was confirmed by sequencing XMRV specific DNA. Recently we started with the antibody tests as well using freshly drawn or deep frozen serum. So far we found retrovirus/XMRV-specific reactions only in a minor proportion of our CFS patients but improvement of the testing procedure is underway. In conclusion we have no doubt that XMRV is present in German CFS patients although the prevalence may not be as high as reported before in the USA. Professor Malcolm Hooper – Conference Chairman Chair of the 6th Invest in ME International ME/CFS Conference 2010 will be Professor Malcolm Hooper, Emeritus Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sunderland. Professor Hooper is an internationally-renowned expert on ME/CFS and a tireless campaigner for patients' rights. Professor Hooper has previously chaired Invest in ME conferences and participates in The Hooper Interviews - interviews with conference speakers at the Invest in ME Conferences and available on the conference DVDs. Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) www.investinme.org Page 56/58
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