site as well as various "share" options]
http://www.rgj.com/article/20091101/NEWS/911010345/1321
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV, USA)
Patients hope for vaccines; researchers eye links to other diseases
By Lenita Powers . lpowers@rgj.com . November 1, 2009
As the news has spread that a retrovirus has been linked to Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, people around the world who suffer from the illness and similar
neuro-immune diseases have been thanking the researchers at
Whittemore-Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease in Reno for giving
them new hope.
"I used to describe having the syndrome as being akin to the sound of one
hand clapping," a woman wrote from London. "Well, now all those hands are
coming together in applause all around the world. I hope all you brilliant
people at the WPI can hear us cheering."
The discovery of a new infectious human retrovirus has prompted positive
reactions from patients, researchers and those suffering from other
illnesses. The next step for researchers is to determine if the new
retrovirus is the cause of the syndrome.
If it is, drugs and even a vaccine could be developed for syndrome patients,
and possibly for those who suffer from related diseases such as autism.
Fred Friedberg, president of the International Association of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, called the discovery of the
retrovirus "hugely exciting."
He said the study was the subject of a recent conference call among the
members of the international association, which is made up mainly of
professors, scientists and clinicians.
"We were discussing the implications of the findings and where it could
lead, and the research possibilities of therapy and a vaccine," Friedberg
said.
However, Dr. William Reeves, who heads the research into the syndrome at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the CDC would use its own
blood samples to try to confirm the results of the study done by the
Whittemore-Peterson Institute.
"If we validate it, great," Reeves told a Florida newspaper. "My expectation
is that we will not."
Reeves could not be reached for further comment.
Vincent Lombardi, a researcher at the Whittemore-Peterson Institute and one
of the authors of the research paper, said having the research published in
the journal Science, which is well-respected, underlines the significance of
it.
"The one thing that makes our research so credible is that there have been
more than 5,000 peer-reviewed papers on the syndrome, but they have never
been published in the journal of Science," Lombardi said.
Judy Mikovits, the lead researcher in the study, said their findings also
are being taken seriously by the rest of the scientific community.
"I've gotten more than 100 e-mails from physicians, and I've gotten calls
from the head of the Mayo Clinic and the clinical director at
Sloan-Kettering," she said. "Those people wouldn't take the time if they
didn't think this was a significant finding."
Mikovits said the Whittemore-Peterson Institute is working with officials in
other countries who want the blood samples of their patients tested for the
retrovirus.
"We've got about 500 samples from the United Kingdom, and we also were
approached by the head of the the syndrome organization in Spain," she said.
"We eventually expect to collaborate with many other countries: Norway,
Germany and others. Everybody is asking if we can test their samples and
asking how they can get in the clinical trials."
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