[SymphonicHealth] MS triggered by Mycoplasmas, major international research (fwd)

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NUIG lecturer leads international MS

Galway Independent, Ireland - July 18, 2007

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/12703.html

A major international research project into the possible causes of

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is being led by the NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

IRELAND (NUI), Galway lecturer Dr Barry, at the Department of

Microbiology.

The joint molecular and clinical exploration of mycoplasmas and other

bacteria that may play key roles in triggering MS is being funded by the

National Multiple Sclerosis Society New York.

Neurology Professor Hogan of NUI, Galway and the INSTITUTE OF

MOLECULAR MEDICINE AND GENETICS, Augusta, Georgia, USA will also be

involved in the research, which will involve the application of

molecular probes to detect traces of mycoplasma DNA in human MS tissue

samples.

Initial studies of such DNA in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and blood

of MS patients are now being followed by investigating the possibility

that mycoplasma infection in humans causes an auto-immune or allergic

reaction producing MS inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord.

Mycoplasmas may incite reactions causing damage to the myelin that is

the insulating sheath of nerve fibers in the nervous system.

The work aims to clarify the role of infection in the occurrence of MS

that is a serious and costly disease, affecting the emotional, social

and financial needs of many Irish families. The research holds the

potential to discover the causes of MS, thereby enabling a more specific

and effective treatment to be developed than those currently in use.

© 2007 Galway Independent, Ireland

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DR. TOM BARRY

CV: http://www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology/dr__thomas_barry.html

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Department of Microbiology

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND(NUI),Galway

University Road, Galway

Phone: +353 91 493189

Fax: +353 91 494958

E-mail: thomas.barry@...

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INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE AND GENETICS

Medical College of Georgia

1120 15th Street, CB 2803

Augusta, GA 30912

Administrative Office:

Phone: 706.721.0682

Fax: 706.721.8727

http://www.mcg.edu/institutes/immag/

http://text.usg.edu:8080/tt/www.mcg.edu/Institutes/IMMAG/contact.htm

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