Agrobacteria and GMO's

[hummingbird]

You may think I've lost my mind, but, I have to post this. So here goes:

Agrobacteria has been found in the wounds of some morgellons patients. From what I have read this bacteria produces fiberous growths. The below GMO link says they work well for inserting favorable genes in the dicot plants i.e., tomatoes, potatoes. These plants make my symptoms worse: potatoes, my lips swell, tomatoes and pepper a hot red ring of fire around my lips.

Why couldn't this bacteria jump to other bacteria, parasites, fungus, food items? And insert it's genome, along with other genes it may be engineered to carry into a host, which now seems o include humans. Other thoughts? Other diet evaluations?

http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/glossary/ (click on" Agrobacteria")
http://www.sunysb.edu/biochem/citovsky/index.html

"Tumor-Causing Plant Bacteria May Infect Human Cells"
Emma Patten Reuters Health News January 31, 2001

Excerpt:
"Dr. Vitaly Citovsky from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and colleagues found that the plant bacterium was able to attach to human cells and insert its DNA into human cells just as it does with plant cells. Whether Agrobacterium is dangerous to humans is unclear, however. "Here (insertion of DNA into) human cells has been observed in laboratory conditions; whether it may be relevant biologically in nature remains unknown," the researchers note in the current early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

[hummingbird]

You may think I've lost my mind, but, I have to post this. So here goes:

Agrobacteria has been found in the wounds of some morgellons patients. From what I have read this bacteria produces fiberous growths. The below GMO link says they work well for inserting favorable genes in the dicot plants i.e., tomatoes, potatoes. These plants make my symptoms worse: potatoes, my lips swell, tomatoes and pepper a hot red ring of fire around my lips.

Why couldn't this bacteria jump to other bacteria, parasites, fungus, food items? And insert it's genome, along with other genes it may be engineered to carry into a host, which now seems o include humans. Other thoughts? Other diet evaluations?

http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/glossary/ (click on" Agrobacteria")
http://www.sunysb.edu/biochem/citovsky/index.html

"Tumor-Causing Plant Bacteria May Infect Human Cells"
Emma Patten Reuters Health News January 31, 2001

Excerpt:
"Dr. Vitaly Citovsky from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and colleagues found that the plant bacterium was able to attach to human cells and insert its DNA into human cells just as it does with plant cells. Whether Agrobacterium is dangerous to humans is unclear, however. "Here (insertion of DNA into) human cells has been observed in laboratory conditions; whether it may be relevant biologically in nature remains unknown," the researchers note in the current early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

[michelle]

Thanks for posting. I find this all very interesting. I use to have an indoor plant business. I would work in my yard and grow herbs and garden for enjoyment. I stay away from it now, but miss it. One of the things I did before having problems with skin on my legs was spread 2 truck loads of top dressing on my lawns. Of course, I did this over a weeks time with my sons help. I planted my
tomatoes and peppers also. I do not think I am going to do that this year either.
It was a waste of my time, because the raccoons came and knocked over pots of vegetables to dig for grubs and would dig at least 25 holes a night in my lawn. When the babies first showed up with mom they were so cute, they like the cats food and would come each night at dark. They grew fast and are a problem now. I had couch outside that I would cover with sheet and they would leave an awful smell. I wondered about bleaching that cover and putting in linen closet with other things. Another possible way of getting some kind of mite or bug.
Michelle

[michelle]

Thanks for posting. I find this all very interesting. I use to have an indoor plant business. I would work in my yard and grow herbs and garden for enjoyment. I stay away from it now, but miss it. One of the things I did before having problems with skin on my legs was spread 2 truck loads of top dressing on my lawns. Of course, I did this over a weeks time with my sons help. I planted my
tomatoes and peppers also. I do not think I am going to do that this year either.
It was a waste of my time, because the raccoons came and knocked over pots of vegetables to dig for grubs and would dig at least 25 holes a night in my lawn. When the babies first showed up with mom they were so cute, they like the cats food and would come each night at dark. They grew fast and are a problem now. I had couch outside that I would cover with sheet and they would leave an awful smell. I wondered about bleaching that cover and putting in linen closet with other things. Another possible way of getting some kind of mite or bug.
Michelle

[silverlark]

Hi I copied this from the main http://www.morgellons.org/ foundation
I have heard this theory before somewhere else but it appears they are finding the bacterium on morg patients...........so this is a correlation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have also seen similar looking things under my scope not sure if this is realted or just junk material but they almost looked the same as what i found so thought i would post the link...I did not take any photos as i didnt think they were relavant to morg?

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2006/06/22.html


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.

CONTRIBUTION OF AGROBACTERIUM TO MORGELLONS DISEASE. RB Stricker*¯, VR Savely¯, A Zaltsman**, V Citovsky**. *California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; ¯International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD; **State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.
Background: Morgellons disease is characterized by dysesthesias and dermatologic lesions that range from minor to disfiguring (Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol 2006;7:1-5). The disease has been reported primarily in Florida, Texas and California. Although an infectious etiology of Morgellons disease has been postulated, treatment of the disease remains problematic, with many patients having inadequate responses to antimicrobial therapy. Skin biopsies of Morgellons patients reveal non-specific pathology or an inflammatory process with no observable pathogens, often with fibrous material projecting from inflamed epidermal tissue. Morgellons skin fibers appear to contain cellulose. This observation indicates possible involvement of pathogenic Agrobacterium, which is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sites within host tissues. Methods: Skin biopsy samples from two Morgellons patients were subjected to high-stringency PCR testing for genes encoded by the Agrobacterium chromosome. Screening of the same samples for Agrobacterium virulence (vir) genes and T-DNA sequences in the patient's genome was also performed. Results: PCR screening indicated the presence of Agrobacterium genes derived both from the chromosome and from the Ti plasmid, including the T-DNA, in tissues from both Morgellons patients. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that Agrobacterium may be involved in the etiology and/or progression of Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Further testing is ongoing to validate this observation and to determine whether Agrobacterium not only resides in the infected areas, but also transforms them genetically.

January 14, 2007
Research update from Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.
Our continuing screen of additional Morgellons patients has identified Agrobacterium genetic material in three additional individuals. Thus, all Morgellons patients screened to date have tested positive for the presence of Agrobacterium, whereas this microorganism has not been detected in any of the samples derived from the control, healthy individuals.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also found this
Collembola Hexapod Infestations found in Morgellons Disease Patients

A study from 2000 published in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society co-sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the National Pediculosis Association found 18 of 20 patients self-reporting symptoms of the Morgellons to have infestations by a minute species of insect-like hexapod known as collembola, or springtails 5. Studied patients had, in their skin scrapings, collembola eggs often no larger than 100 micrometres or juvenile collembola no larger than 300 micrometres.



-------------------------------------------------

Lastly the Nano-technology Thery can be read here

http://alcuinbramerton.blogspot.com/...s-mystery.html

Morgellons Disease is an intelligently designed radio-receptive nanotech invasion of living human tissue

An introductory account of the nature of Morgellons Disease is detailed in the paragraphs below, following the green dotted line. Increasingly, Morgellons Disease appears to involve paranormal signifiers and off-the-radar symptoms. In March and April 2007, Jeff Rense published and broadcast some capable research based on scientific techniques including electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The Team Leader of the research unit was Dr Hilgegarde Staninger of Integrative Health International at Lakewood, California (USA).

The preliminary findings were alarming. Morgellons Disease appears to be a communicable nanotechnology invasion of human tissue in the form of self-assembling, self-replicating nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoarrays with sensors. Other nanoconfigurations associated with Morgellons Disease carry genetically-altered and spliced DNA or RNA. The nanomachines which precipitate Morgellons Disease use the human host's bio-electric energy as one of their power sources. There is evidence that certain of the tiny machines possess their own internal batteries as well. The Morgellons Disease nanomachines are configured to receive specific tuned microwave, EMF and ELF signals and radio data.

Many new images of Morgellons Disease nanotech structures are being published. Here are ten of them:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sources: Rense.com (USA) 29.03.07 and 05.04.07.

Further research on Morgellons Disease needs to address pressing new questions: Do the Morgellons Disease fibril nanoarrays broadcast radio data as well as receive radio data? Do Morgellons Disease sufferers experience a pattern of dream disruption or dream moderation which is specific to this condition and to this condition only? Is there statistically significant evidence that the Morgellons Disease phenomena may be causally linked with covert American mind-control programmes such as those sometimes associated with the HAARP antennae in Alaska and elsewhere? Is there statistically significant evidence that the Morgellons Disease phenomena may be causally linked with the theatrically staged "alien abductions" which many hundreds of thousands of Americans who live near covert security facilities have reported? And, why is mainline fundamentalist medicine in America not engaging with the challenge of Morgellons Disease? Also it would be instructive to learn whether or not the spiritual healer Torbi el Mekki can cure people of Morgellons Disease. He is based in Skhirat, Morocco, and is healing many with AIDS and cancer. Torbi el Mekki is well-connected, spiritually, and the healing energies deployed through him have been widely attested.
#
.................................................. .........
#
An unusual, newly active, life-shortening and apparently incurable illness is causing increasing comment in America. The US Centres for Disease Control are receiving up to twenty calls a day about Morgellons Disease.

The symptoms are alarming: crawling skin, constant pain, stinging, stabbing and biting sensations, disfiguring and non-healing sores, multi-coloured, autofluorescent, cellulose-like fibres and other unusual structures growing under the skin and out of open skin lesions, gelatinous glowing blood, black tarry sweat, fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, disintegrating teeth, bowel problems, joint and muscle pains. The lesions do not scab normally and never become bacterially infected.

Depression and bipolar disorder are often associated with the condition in adults, and autism spectrum disorders are associated with the condition in 10 per cent of the children studied. Some patients have also reported Morgellons symptoms in their cats, dogs and horses.

One researcher observed that a sample of the Morgellons fibrils left on a dry glass dish seemed to be growing by itself without any visible external sustenance. Other fibrils have been shown to withstand temperatures in excess of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit (760 degrees Celsius).

Some say that Morgellons disease is a form of delusional parasitosis - a paranoid fear that creatures are living inside you.

On 23rd April 2006, a Morgellons sufferer in Texas, Travis Wilson, aged 24, committed suicide to escape the unbearable itching.

Here is the testimony of another sufferer which was posted on the Medconsumer.info site:

"Is there any help out there for this horrible thing that is going on? Three years ago I began coming down with what I thought was a virus. I was tired all the time, I had pain all over my body and sores were breaking out all over me. The sores bothered me terribly and out of them I could pull something white and sometimes blue. The sores were leaving my body very scarred."

"As my disease progressed I became worse and worse. I no longer could stay out of bed more than a few hours at a time and a crawling sensation had begun to bother me. I even told my wife, "I think these things are alive." Now, three year later I came across this "Morgellons" and it seems to be exactly what I have. All of the symptoms are there and getting worse daily."

"I now cannot leave the house more than once or twice a month and am plagued with the crawling 24/7. I am at my wits end and don't know which way to turn. I've been to many doctors that tell me it's "all in my head" and have used every cream, ointment, spray and any other first aid I can find. Nothing seems to help."

"I am going mad with the pain, itching and crawling. Is there anyone out there that knows something one can use to at least give some comfort? I no longer sleep at night but a few hours after complete exhaustion. God Help Us."

How does Morgellons disease start? Miles Lawrence, a landscaper in Florence, Texas, was packing for a road trip to Las Vegas when he noticed his finger tingling. He stared in disbelief as "little spiny things" sprouted out of the skin where he'd just removed a splinter. He took hold of one of the spines with tweezers and pulled. Instantly, a bolt of pain shot up his arm. He pulled on another spine and the pain snaked up his neck. Then he began to feel sensations like "bugs under the skin of my arms and in my joints".

Various internet discussion forums are addressing the Morgellons Mystery. Here are six of them:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Back in November 2004, the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation reported that of the "1,100 hundred known cases in the U.S., most of them are in Texas, California and Florida."

The questions being asked about Morgellons disease are disturbing. Is it the result of covert bioterrorism? Is it a new stress-induced, psychosomatic epidemic? Is it a spiritual disease? Is it being brought on by fear? Is Morgellons disease a physical epiphenomenon of war-on-terror paranoia? Why is it peculiarly American? Why is it specifically clustered in Texas, California and Florida? And was there a causal connection between Hurricane Katrina and the onset of Morgellons disease among some people in that locality?

[silverlark]

Hi I copied this from the main http://www.morgellons.org/ foundation
I have heard this theory before somewhere else but it appears they are finding the bacterium on morg patients...........so this is a correlation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have also seen similar looking things under my scope not sure if this is realted or just junk material but they almost looked the same as what i found so thought i would post the link...I did not take any photos as i didnt think they were relavant to morg?

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2006/06/22.html


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.

CONTRIBUTION OF AGROBACTERIUM TO MORGELLONS DISEASE. RB Stricker*¯, VR Savely¯, A Zaltsman**, V Citovsky**. *California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; ¯International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD; **State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.
Background: Morgellons disease is characterized by dysesthesias and dermatologic lesions that range from minor to disfiguring (Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol 2006;7:1-5). The disease has been reported primarily in Florida, Texas and California. Although an infectious etiology of Morgellons disease has been postulated, treatment of the disease remains problematic, with many patients having inadequate responses to antimicrobial therapy. Skin biopsies of Morgellons patients reveal non-specific pathology or an inflammatory process with no observable pathogens, often with fibrous material projecting from inflamed epidermal tissue. Morgellons skin fibers appear to contain cellulose. This observation indicates possible involvement of pathogenic Agrobacterium, which is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sites within host tissues. Methods: Skin biopsy samples from two Morgellons patients were subjected to high-stringency PCR testing for genes encoded by the Agrobacterium chromosome. Screening of the same samples for Agrobacterium virulence (vir) genes and T-DNA sequences in the patient's genome was also performed. Results: PCR screening indicated the presence of Agrobacterium genes derived both from the chromosome and from the Ti plasmid, including the T-DNA, in tissues from both Morgellons patients. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that Agrobacterium may be involved in the etiology and/or progression of Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Further testing is ongoing to validate this observation and to determine whether Agrobacterium not only resides in the infected areas, but also transforms them genetically.

January 14, 2007
Research update from Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.
Our continuing screen of additional Morgellons patients has identified Agrobacterium genetic material in three additional individuals. Thus, all Morgellons patients screened to date have tested positive for the presence of Agrobacterium, whereas this microorganism has not been detected in any of the samples derived from the control, healthy individuals.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also found this
Collembola Hexapod Infestations found in Morgellons Disease Patients

A study from 2000 published in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society co-sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the National Pediculosis Association found 18 of 20 patients self-reporting symptoms of the Morgellons to have infestations by a minute species of insect-like hexapod known as collembola, or springtails 5. Studied patients had, in their skin scrapings, collembola eggs often no larger than 100 micrometres or juvenile collembola no larger than 300 micrometres.



-------------------------------------------------

Lastly the Nano-technology Thery can be read here

http://alcuinbramerton.blogspot.com/...s-mystery.html

Morgellons Disease is an intelligently designed radio-receptive nanotech invasion of living human tissue

An introductory account of the nature of Morgellons Disease is detailed in the paragraphs below, following the green dotted line. Increasingly, Morgellons Disease appears to involve paranormal signifiers and off-the-radar symptoms. In March and April 2007, Jeff Rense published and broadcast some capable research based on scientific techniques including electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The Team Leader of the research unit was Dr Hilgegarde Staninger of Integrative Health International at Lakewood, California (USA).

The preliminary findings were alarming. Morgellons Disease appears to be a communicable nanotechnology invasion of human tissue in the form of self-assembling, self-replicating nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoarrays with sensors. Other nanoconfigurations associated with Morgellons Disease carry genetically-altered and spliced DNA or RNA. The nanomachines which precipitate Morgellons Disease use the human host's bio-electric energy as one of their power sources. There is evidence that certain of the tiny machines possess their own internal batteries as well. The Morgellons Disease nanomachines are configured to receive specific tuned microwave, EMF and ELF signals and radio data.

Many new images of Morgellons Disease nanotech structures are being published. Here are ten of them:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sources: Rense.com (USA) 29.03.07 and 05.04.07.

Further research on Morgellons Disease needs to address pressing new questions: Do the Morgellons Disease fibril nanoarrays broadcast radio data as well as receive radio data? Do Morgellons Disease sufferers experience a pattern of dream disruption or dream moderation which is specific to this condition and to this condition only? Is there statistically significant evidence that the Morgellons Disease phenomena may be causally linked with covert American mind-control programmes such as those sometimes associated with the HAARP antennae in Alaska and elsewhere? Is there statistically significant evidence that the Morgellons Disease phenomena may be causally linked with the theatrically staged "alien abductions" which many hundreds of thousands of Americans who live near covert security facilities have reported? And, why is mainline fundamentalist medicine in America not engaging with the challenge of Morgellons Disease? Also it would be instructive to learn whether or not the spiritual healer Torbi el Mekki can cure people of Morgellons Disease. He is based in Skhirat, Morocco, and is healing many with AIDS and cancer. Torbi el Mekki is well-connected, spiritually, and the healing energies deployed through him have been widely attested.
#
.................................................. .........
#
An unusual, newly active, life-shortening and apparently incurable illness is causing increasing comment in America. The US Centres for Disease Control are receiving up to twenty calls a day about Morgellons Disease.

The symptoms are alarming: crawling skin, constant pain, stinging, stabbing and biting sensations, disfiguring and non-healing sores, multi-coloured, autofluorescent, cellulose-like fibres and other unusual structures growing under the skin and out of open skin lesions, gelatinous glowing blood, black tarry sweat, fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, disintegrating teeth, bowel problems, joint and muscle pains. The lesions do not scab normally and never become bacterially infected.

Depression and bipolar disorder are often associated with the condition in adults, and autism spectrum disorders are associated with the condition in 10 per cent of the children studied. Some patients have also reported Morgellons symptoms in their cats, dogs and horses.

One researcher observed that a sample of the Morgellons fibrils left on a dry glass dish seemed to be growing by itself without any visible external sustenance. Other fibrils have been shown to withstand temperatures in excess of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit (760 degrees Celsius).

Some say that Morgellons disease is a form of delusional parasitosis - a paranoid fear that creatures are living inside you.

On 23rd April 2006, a Morgellons sufferer in Texas, Travis Wilson, aged 24, committed suicide to escape the unbearable itching.

Here is the testimony of another sufferer which was posted on the Medconsumer.info site:

"Is there any help out there for this horrible thing that is going on? Three years ago I began coming down with what I thought was a virus. I was tired all the time, I had pain all over my body and sores were breaking out all over me. The sores bothered me terribly and out of them I could pull something white and sometimes blue. The sores were leaving my body very scarred."

"As my disease progressed I became worse and worse. I no longer could stay out of bed more than a few hours at a time and a crawling sensation had begun to bother me. I even told my wife, "I think these things are alive." Now, three year later I came across this "Morgellons" and it seems to be exactly what I have. All of the symptoms are there and getting worse daily."

"I now cannot leave the house more than once or twice a month and am plagued with the crawling 24/7. I am at my wits end and don't know which way to turn. I've been to many doctors that tell me it's "all in my head" and have used every cream, ointment, spray and any other first aid I can find. Nothing seems to help."

"I am going mad with the pain, itching and crawling. Is there anyone out there that knows something one can use to at least give some comfort? I no longer sleep at night but a few hours after complete exhaustion. God Help Us."

How does Morgellons disease start? Miles Lawrence, a landscaper in Florence, Texas, was packing for a road trip to Las Vegas when he noticed his finger tingling. He stared in disbelief as "little spiny things" sprouted out of the skin where he'd just removed a splinter. He took hold of one of the spines with tweezers and pulled. Instantly, a bolt of pain shot up his arm. He pulled on another spine and the pain snaked up his neck. Then he began to feel sensations like "bugs under the skin of my arms and in my joints".

Various internet discussion forums are addressing the Morgellons Mystery. Here are six of them:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Back in November 2004, the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation reported that of the "1,100 hundred known cases in the U.S., most of them are in Texas, California and Florida."

The questions being asked about Morgellons disease are disturbing. Is it the result of covert bioterrorism? Is it a new stress-induced, psychosomatic epidemic? Is it a spiritual disease? Is it being brought on by fear? Is Morgellons disease a physical epiphenomenon of war-on-terror paranoia? Why is it peculiarly American? Why is it specifically clustered in Texas, California and Florida? And was there a causal connection between Hurricane Katrina and the onset of Morgellons disease among some people in that locality?

[lindalu]

www.biotech-info.net/tumor_causing.html -

OK, how do we get checked for this
Has anyone spoken to Goodner or Citovsky? I have located what I think would be contact #'s for them. PM me if you may want to contact.
Linda

[lindalu]

www.biotech-info.net/tumor_causing.html -

OK, how do we get checked for this
Has anyone spoken to Goodner or Citovsky? I have located what I think would be contact #'s for them. PM me if you may want to contact.
Linda

[al]

CONTRIBUTION OF AGROBACTERIUM TO MORGELLONS DISEASE. RB Stricker*¯, VR Savely¯, A Zaltsman**, V Citovsky**. *California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; ¯International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD; **State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.
Background: Morgellons disease is characterized by dysesthesias and dermatologic lesions that range from minor to disfiguring (Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol 2006;7:1-5). The disease has been reported primarily in Florida, Texas and California. Although an infectious etiology of Morgellons disease has been postulated, treatment of the disease remains problematic, with many patients having inadequate responses to antimicrobial therapy. Skin biopsies of Morgellons patients reveal non-specific pathology or an inflammatory process with no observable pathogens, often with fibrous material projecting from inflamed epidermal tissue. Morgellons skin fibers appear to contain cellulose. This observation indicates possible involvement of pathogenic Agrobacterium, which is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sites within host tissues. Methods: Skin biopsy samples from two Morgellons patients were subjected to high-stringency PCR testing for genes encoded by the Agrobacterium chromosome. Screening of the same samples for Agrobacterium virulence (vir) genes and T-DNA sequences in the patient’s genome was also performed. Results: PCR screening indicated the presence of Agrobacterium genes derived both from the chromosome and from the Ti plasmid, including the T-DNA, in tissues from both Morgellons patients. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that Agrobacterium may be involved in the etiology and/or progression of Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Further testing is ongoing to validate this observation and to determine whether Agrobacterium not only resides in the infected areas, but also transforms them genetically.

January 14, 2007
Research update from Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.
Our continuing screen of additional Morgellons patients has identified Agrobacterium genetic material in three additional individuals. Thus, all Morgellons patients screened to date have tested positive for the presence of Agrobacterium, whereas this microorganism has not been detected in any of the samples derived from the control, healthy individuals.

[al]

CONTRIBUTION OF AGROBACTERIUM TO MORGELLONS DISEASE. RB Stricker*¯, VR Savely¯, A Zaltsman**, V Citovsky**. *California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; ¯International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD; **State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.
Background: Morgellons disease is characterized by dysesthesias and dermatologic lesions that range from minor to disfiguring (Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol 2006;7:1-5). The disease has been reported primarily in Florida, Texas and California. Although an infectious etiology of Morgellons disease has been postulated, treatment of the disease remains problematic, with many patients having inadequate responses to antimicrobial therapy. Skin biopsies of Morgellons patients reveal non-specific pathology or an inflammatory process with no observable pathogens, often with fibrous material projecting from inflamed epidermal tissue. Morgellons skin fibers appear to contain cellulose. This observation indicates possible involvement of pathogenic Agrobacterium, which is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sites within host tissues. Methods: Skin biopsy samples from two Morgellons patients were subjected to high-stringency PCR testing for genes encoded by the Agrobacterium chromosome. Screening of the same samples for Agrobacterium virulence (vir) genes and T-DNA sequences in the patient’s genome was also performed. Results: PCR screening indicated the presence of Agrobacterium genes derived both from the chromosome and from the Ti plasmid, including the T-DNA, in tissues from both Morgellons patients. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that Agrobacterium may be involved in the etiology and/or progression of Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Further testing is ongoing to validate this observation and to determine whether Agrobacterium not only resides in the infected areas, but also transforms them genetically.

January 14, 2007
Research update from Vitaly Citovsky, Ph.D.
Our continuing screen of additional Morgellons patients has identified Agrobacterium genetic material in three additional individuals. Thus, all Morgellons patients screened to date have tested positive for the presence of Agrobacterium, whereas this microorganism has not been detected in any of the samples derived from the control, healthy individuals.