Facts about the XMRV virus in ME/CFS with links

· XMRV is found in two major diseases: prostate cancer and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/docs/wpi_pressrel_100809.pdf

 · XMRV(xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus)  is a human retrovirus and is similar to HIV and HTLV-1 http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html

 · XMRV virus is contagious and can be transmitted through blood. It is thought to be transmittable through other bodily fluids such as semen and breast milk. http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html

 · XMRV virus is not an airborne contagion (contagious through air) http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/docs/wpi_pressrel_100809.pdf

 · Original test found active XMRV virus in the blood of 67 % of ME/CFS patients tested http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/CFSxmrv

 · Refined test found XMRV anti-bodies in plasma of 95 % of ME/CFS patients tested   http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/docs/wpi_pressrel_100809.pdf

 ·  London research study tested 500 patients and found similar percentages http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/4328639.html?thread=27760063

 · The ME/CFS patients tested fulfilled both the Fukuda criteria (1994) and the Canadian Consensus Criteria (2003) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/data/1179052/DC1/1

 · Three separate laboratories tested for the XMRV virus in ME/CFS patients: The National Cancer Institute, The Cleveland Clinic and The Whittemore Peterson Institute http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/CFSxmrv

 · Patient samples were donated from several regions of the US http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html  http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/data/1179052/DC1/1

 · Researchers used PCR assays and flow cytometry tests in the recent study published in Science http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/data/1179052/DC1/1

 · XMRV virus was found in 40% of autism patients tested http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/is-autism-associated with_b_316986.html  

http://www.kcra.com/video/21256489/index.html

 · ME/CFS patients with XMRV virus could have elevated Rnase-L pathway and low Natural Killer cells, but this is not necessary http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html

 · XMRV was originally discovered in prostate cancer tumors by Dr. Robert Silverman http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/CFSxmrv

 · Retroviruses like XMRV have also been shown to activate a number of other latent viruses like EBV, HHV-6 http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/CFSxmrv

 ·Scientists from The Whittemore Peterson Institute, The Cleveland Clinic and The National Cancer Institute were the first to discover XMRV in the blood of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients. http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/CFSxmrv

 · XMRV virus is not a woman`s disease: it is also in found in men and children http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html

 · XMRV virus is capable of infecting prostate cells via the XPR1 receptor and can damage the heart http://jvi.highwire.org:80/cgi/content/full/81/22/12307

 · ME/CFS is now called XAND (X associated neuro-immune disease) http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/docs/wpi_pressrel_100809.pdf

 · XMRV is also found in fibromyalgia and atypical MS patients http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/xmrv_qa.html

Sources:

Consortium of Researchers Discover Retroviral Link to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (NIH/National Cancer Institute Press Release, October 8, 2009)

Whittemore Peterson Institute Scientists Discover Significant link between XMRV and ME/CFS (WPI Press Release; October 8, 2009) [PDF]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whittemore-Peterson-Institute/154801179671?ref=ss#/topic.php?uid=154801179671&topic=10009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzIdpMUunHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOdnwPCh-yw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vISWCI-13M&feature=related