Viruses Such As HHV6 and Genetic Susceptibility to Morgellons

[tcmgpt13]

"One 38 yo woman with multiple sclerosis(MS) sure that her MS improving as Morg increased." (from Schwartz twitter)

This is not too mysterious if the Morgellons "parasites" are feeding on viruses. HHV6 is known to be involved in multiple sclerosis. So the more viruses eaten the fewer multiple sclerosis symptoms present.
Unfortunately the side effects from Morgellons are much worse than anti-viral medication and the host will suffer much more from the Morgellons "parasites" than from the drug.

Essentially I think this is my doctor's philosophy in giving me medication for the re-activated viral infections I showed on testing (one of which was this virus although no MS in my case). Give the "parasite" less to feed on and the symptoms of Morgellons will lessen or abate entirely.

I reposted an article that Carla originally posted in April yesterday on another herpes thread. This article mentions that about 1% of people may carry this virus in their germ line as inherited from one or perhaps both parents. So this is rather thought provoking to say the least. Perhaps that could be why some people are very susceptible to whatever Morgellons is.

If HHV6 is indeed in the chromosomes of the body since birth then it would be found in every cell of the body. And certainly it would be in the CNS and brain. Even if this HHV6 is only a reactivated infection (nearly everyone has been exposed to this virus in early life) it would be found in all areas of the body as well. It could explain a lot about Morgellons, at least as experienced by some people, especially the involvement of the nervous system which is something that all viruses do.

Here is yet another article about the HHV6 virus weaving itself into human DNA:

Virus Weaves Itself Into The DNA Transferred From Parents To Babies

Virus Weaves Itself Into The DNA Transferred From Parents To Babies

ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 200 — Parents expect to pass on their eye or hair color, their knobby knees or their big feet to their children through their genes. But they don't expect to pass on viruses through those same genes.

New research from the University of Rochester Medical Center shows that some parents pass on the human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) to their children because it is integrated into their chromosomes. This is the first time a virus has been shown to become part of the human DNA and then get passed to subsequent generations. This unique mode of congenital infection may be occurring in as many as 1 of every 116 newborns, and the long-term consequences for a child's development and immune system are unknown.

"At this point, we know very little about the implications of this type of infection, but the section of the chromosome into which the virus appears to integrate is important to the maintenance of normal immune function," said Caroline Breese Hall, M.D., professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and author of the study which publishes in Pediatrics this month. "With further study, we hope to discern whether this type of infection affects children differently than children infected after birth."

HHV-6 causes roseola, an infection that is nearly universal by 3 years of age. The typical roseola syndrome produces several days and up to a week of a high fever and may have variable other symptoms including mild respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. With roseola, just as the fever breaks, the child may briefly develop a rash. A congenital infection of HHV-6 – or one that is present at birth – produces high levels of virus in the body but scientists (doctors) do not know whether it produces any developmental or immune system problems.

Some congenital infections can cause serious problems in fetuses. If a mother contracts cytomegalovirus (CMV) while pregnant, her fetus is at risk of hearing or vision loss, developmental disabilities and problems with the lungs, liver and spleen. Some of those health problems don't show up until months or years after birth. HHV-6 virus is a closely related virus to CMV, and the congenital infection rate of CMV is similar to that of congenital HHV-6 – about 1 percent. However, this research shows that a congenital HHV-6 infection differs greatly from a congenital CMV infection in that it is often integrated into the chromosomes of the baby rather than passed through the placenta.

"This is the first time a herpes virus has been recognized to integrate into the human genome. To think that it's actually a part of us – that's really fascinating," said Mary Caserta, M.D., associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center and one of the paper's authors. "This opens up a whole new realm of exploration."

Of 254 children enrolled in this study between July 2003 and April 2007, 43 had congenital HHV-6 infections based on cord blood samples. Of 211 children without congenital infection, 42 were children who acquired an HHV-6 infection during the study. Of the infants who had congenital infections, 86 percent of them (37) had the virus integrated into their chromosomes. Only six of the congenitally infected babies were infected by the mother through the placenta .

Children who had integrated HHV-6 had higher levels of virus in the body than those who were infected through the placenta. HHV-6 DNA was found in the hair of one parent of all children with integrated virus with available parental samples (18 mothers and 11 fathers), which means the children acquired the integrated infections through their mother's egg or father's sperm at conception. The virus's DNA was not found in hair samples of parents of children who were infected after birth.

This study is part of a series of ongoing studies on children with HHV-6 infections at the University's Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.

This study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Development and, in part, by grants from the General Clinical Research Center, the National Center for Research Resources, the National Institutes of Health and the HHV-6 Foundation.

Carla's thread (which discusses this virus, dna and the connection of this virus to neurological disease):

New Info On Herpes (permalink 1)

[Kritters]

Hey TC,

Sorry to not give your post the attention it deserves tonite, but i'm really tired right now. You wrote,

This is not too mysterious if the Morgellons "parasites" are feeding on viruses. HHV6 is known to be involved in multiple sclerosis. So the more viruses eaten the fewer multiple sclerosis symptoms present.
Unfortunately the side effects from Morgellons are much worse than anti-viral medication and the host will suffer much more from the Morgellons "parasites" than from the drug.

What do you mean they are feeding on viruses? don't you think herpes is part of morgellons? Part of the dna?

Kritts

[tcmgpt13]

I don't know that HHV6 is a part of our DNA, as only about 1% of the population (according to the article Carla posted) is estimated to be directly born with the HHV6 in their DNA. Anyway, it is possible that different people have different active Morgellons infections (bacterial, fungal can be problems too), but generally parasites are attracted to food sources, whether in animals, plants or us. That is why clearing whatever infection is in the body theoretically could clear up Morgellons symptoms, if indeed it is a parasite.

Right now, absolutely everything is up in the air. We do not have a lot of solid data at all, from anyone, just a lot of hints. What one would do about clearing up a viral infection if is a part of the DNA I don't know.

Anyway, in the case of viral infections, it more probably would be just a reactivated infection (those other 99% not born with HHV6 in their DNA). This is why I am here posting under theories and speculations. This is speculation as I am not a scientist and so much of this is unclear. Still my personal experience (improving health over time with acyclovir, ivermectin, herbs) tells me something like this may be going on in the Morgellons picture. Viral infections would explain a lot of the lesion patterns on the skin, viral infections (such as chicken pox) follow the nerves (which I think many are seeing), and can be found in the CNS and brain. HHV6 has been implicated in AIDS alzheimer's patients (probably other herpes viruses may be as well).

[Kritters]

I've just read a lot of information stating that almost 100% of all people in the United States have some form of Herpes (I think they stated Herpes I).... so...obviously nothing is etched in stone at the moment we speak, but I've the intention of finding out for sure. It's a very interesting situation. Seems that although they trace herpes back to the Grecian times as per descriptions (and we know how things are passed down the line) around the same time as the Great Influenze of 1918 more 'discoveries' of herpes were made. hmmmm. Call me a skeptic.

In any case, I think it's definitely passed down in the genome to our children. If it can remain dormant because of the protein shield, it's a no brainer that it's progressed over the years to where it is now.

Where it is now....and how it's involved...(not only in "morgellons")..is the question.

Kritts

[tcmgpt13]

Yes, well, I am fairly certain that it is nearly a given that nearly everyone has been exposed to some type of herpes viral infection(s) which could also be problematic to health later in life. The long term consequences of viral infections remain pretty murky, given the long focus on bacteria as the cause of diseases.

Apparently though, if one has HHV-6 as part of the chromosomes, the regular anti-viral medications will not work (that leaves me out as this drug is working for me). Here's one example from Pubmed:

Prevalence of HHV-6 integrated chromosomally among children treated for acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia in the Czech Republic.
Hubacek P, Muzikova K, Hrdlickova A, Cinek O, Hyncicova K, Hrstkova H, Sedlacek P, Stary J.

Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. petr.hubacek@lfmotol.cuni.cz

Chromosomal integration of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a novel situation found in a small percentage of individuals. While active HHV-6 infection is treatable using antivirals, the abnormally high level of HHV-6 DNA found in chromosomal integration of HHV-6 (CI-HHV-6) is not affected by such drugs. Stored DNA samples taken originally for detection of fusion genes and minimal residual disease from 339 pediatric patients treated for leukemia in the Czech Republic between the years 1995-2007 were tested retrospectively. Using real-time quantitative PCR technology, the quantity of HHV-6 DNA detected was normalized to 100,000 human genome equivalents as assessed by quantitation of the albumin gene. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 107 samples from 91 patients (26.8%). In the majority of samples (99) only a minute level of normalized viral copies (NVCs) (median 1.84 NVCs) was detected. A high viral load of approximately 100,000 NVCs was detected in 5 patients (1.5%; median 140,150 NVCs), in all of whom were confirmed subsequently CI-HHV-6 by a detection of HHV-6 DNA in hair follicles or in the nails. In all but one patient with HHV-6 variant B, variant A of the virus was detected. None of the patients with CI-HHV-6 had complications attributable to HHV-6 infection. The prevalence of CI-HHV-6 in childhood leukemia does not differ from that published for other patients or healthy populations. Where high levels of HHV-6 DNA are present, CI-HHV-6 should be confirmed as soon as possible so that potentially toxic but ineffective antiviral treatment can be stopped. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

So I do not think that everyone with Morgellons will have viruses inserted into their chromosomes, though it may be possible a small percentage do. I do think it could also be possible that re-activated viral infections of one sort or another could be part of the morgellons pictures, at least for some (me for starters LOL). There also may be other genetic anomalies which could be in the picture as well, such as lower NK (killer) cells, thereby making it easier to get sick. This pattern is often true for patients who have thyroid dysfunctions and was mentioned in the recent paper on Morgellons as something that was noticed. I think this is why it will be hard to pin down what Morgellons is exactly and I can only imagine the frustration studying so many variables would cause to a researcher, that is if we even had a well paid and steady researcher.

[lamb]

Totally agree with both of you ladies. Look back at your genetic history (if you are able to do so.. if not .. look to the history of your illnesses) My Mom died of Alzheimer's, (after having shingles a decade or so earlier) her Mom had ALS, My Mom's fraternal Grandmother had some form of dementia. That's only one side, on the other we have hypothyroidism , cancer, early deaths due to suspected aneurisms.

I think my son and I are in deep doo-doo-. He was very sickly as a child til 5yrs. he had an adenoidectomy then and was healthy til 14 when migraines developed and Mom got sick simultaneously.

I worry about him so. I do think there are parasites, agrobacterium, fungi bacteria involved as well. I lived in farm country in Southern CA in the late 70's/80's. I now live in Lyme central but only test posiitve on the 41 band but indeterminate in the 31 band (bbG I think) and we have always been gardeners/beach people. I cannot tell if he has it due to teen acne but he's not sleeping and that frightens me. It's on me if my baby is sick.
Auugggh! As if this m doesn't suck enough!

[Kritters]

Actually Lamb,

I think you're in for a treat! Now they are saying herpes might actually become our friend! You see, being young does have many advantages! LOL they are finding a way to use the virus to our advantage. I'll post later. I'm (still) tired tonite.

I'm seriously beginning to think positive because of how so many people are aware today. Nothing gets by us now. It's the coolest.

Kritts

[Kritters]

Listen,

As far as I'm concerned (and I'm the queen of depression worrying about my loved ones) we are in a very good place today because of what we are learning.

Knowledge is power. And power to the (informed) people and we are becoming more informed than ever.

We are strong or else we wouldn't be on this forum, yes?

Kritts

[lamb]

I pray that you are correct. It's too late for me.. that's okay. But my son needs a real life and my unknowing complicity in his illness is adding to all of this nightmare. Hope you sleep well.

[Kritters]

I hear ya TC and I'm sure you're right. I just think that we all have herpes and herpes is majorly implicated. Big time. Big, Big, Big time. Almost 100% have it. It's like a mycoplasm fermentans thing. In fact...I'm sure it's ALL involved as well as what Venetia and Kam and Kat are bringing forth. All of it is.

we just have to figger out how.

Kritts