Mycoplasma microorganism explained....

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Mycoplasma

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The Analyst - Internet Health Report: Condition: Mycoplasma Infection

Mycoplasma has no cell wall and is the smallest free-living bacteria, being 1/5 to 1/25 the size of other bacteria. It is strictly anaerobic and has a special characteristic of metabolizing glucose. Like the virus, it is very dependent upon its host for survival. It was originally classified as a virus due to its small size and as a pleuro-pneumoniae organism because it was first found to be related to pneumonia.

There are many different species of Mycoplasma. Mycoplasma pneumonia as well as at least 7 other mycoplasma species have been linked as a direct cause or significant co-factor to many chronic diseases. These include Mycoplasma pneumonia, incognitos, penetrans, pirum, genitalium, fermentans, salivarium, hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Scientists have been studying the relationship between Mycoplasma and different diseases for several decades. A list of such conditions includes cancer, auto-immune diseases (arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis) ALS, chronic fatigue syndrome and candidiasis. Mycoplasma are found to infect females 4 times more often than males, which just happens to be similar to the incidence rate in rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and other related disorders.

Due to the small size and the lack of a cell wall, this microorganism is capable of infecting a great number of cells in any part of the body and live as a parasite on the surface of the cells. Mycoplasmas can become a parasite in plants, insects, animals, and humans, and can trigger different diseases. Once the Mycoplasma becomes a parasite in the cell, morphologic and physiologic changes are developed and it takes on the appearance of various diseases such as pneumonia, urethritis, pyelonephritis, as well as arthritis, lupus and other immune diseases. In cancer, the tumor cells infected by Mycoplasma are more susceptible to spreading which contributes to metastases in different parts of the body. This is also true with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (especially when the symptoms are severe), Multiple Sclerosis, and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

A list of conditions which may be caused or influenced by Mycoplasma or for which Mycoplasma becomes an opportunistic infection include:

AIDS/HIV

ALS

arthritis

asthma

bronchitis

Cancer

chronic fatigue syndrome

chronic nongonococcal urethritis

chronic pelvic inflammatory disease

Crohn's

diabetes

endocrine disorders

eye and ear disorders and infections

Fibromyalgia

gingivitis and periodontal disease

heart disease

infertility

irritable bowel syndrome

leukemia

lupus

multiple sclerosis

pneumonia

psoriasis

scleroderma

TMJ disorders

urinary tract infections Further research is necessary to confirm these connections.

Since mycoplasma have no cell wall, immune cells can not 'see' them. Infected white blood cells (leukocytes) are not killed, but disabled. This results in the immune system being under the false impression that there are enough white cells in circulation. Both under activity (anergia) and over activity (hyperergia) of the immune system have been reported as a result of mycoplasma infections.

Mycoplasma is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected people especially when they cough and sneeze. Transmission is thought to require prolonged close contact with an infected person. Spread in families, schools and institutions occurs slowly. The contagious period is probably fewer than 10 days and occasionally longer. In Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, symptoms generally begin 15 to 25 days after exposure. The symptoms generally develop slowly, over a period of two to four days.

Please note that it is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms: if you treat yourself for the wrong illness or a specific symptom of a complex disease, you may delay legitimate treatment of a serious underlying problem. In other words, the greatest danger in self-treatment may be self-diagnosis. If you do not know what you really have, you can not treat it!

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Signs, symptoms & indicators of Mycoplasma Infection:

Symptoms - General Fatigue of recent onset

Symptoms - Metabolic

Having a slight/having a moderate/having a high fever

Symptoms - Respiratory

Recent/chronic nonproductive cough

Conditions that suggest Mycoplasma Infection:

Autoimmune Sarcoidosis From time to time there have been reports of autoimmune disease succumbing to tetracycline antibiotics, but many have assumed this was due to coincidence, or to some ill-defined ‘anti-inflammatory property’ of the tetracyclines. But now the inflammation of Sarcoidosis has succumbed to antibiotics in two independent studies. This review examines the Cell Wall Deficient (antibiotic resistant) bacteria which have been found in tissue from patients with Sarcoidosis. It examines how such bacteria can infect the phagocytes of the immune system, and how they may therefore be responsible for not only sarcoid inflammation, but also for other autoimmune disease.

Proof positive of a bacterial pathogenesis for Sarcoidosis includes not only the demonstrated ability of these studies to put the disease into remission, but also the severity of Jarisch-Herxheimer Shock resulting from endotoxin release as the microbes are killed. Studies delineating the hormone responsible for phagocyte differentiation in the Th1 immune response, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, are discussed, and its utility as a marker of Th1 immune inflammation is reviewed. Finally, data showing that the behavior of this hormone is also aberrant in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Parkinson’s, raise the possibility that these diseases may also have a CWD bacterial pathogenesis. [Autoimmunity Reviews, Vol 3, No 4, pp 295-300]

Autoimmune Tendency

Multiple Sclerosis / Risk

Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis)

Scleroderma

Crohn's Disease

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Digestion

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Environment / Toxicity

Gulf War Illness

Immunity

Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome

AIDS / Risk

Infections

Pneumonia Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, and the disease usually is of gradual onset. The prolonged paroxysmal cough seen in this disease is thought to be due to the inhibition of ciliary movement, since the organism has a filamentous end that allows it to slip between cilia within the respiratory epithelium.

The organism has a selective affinity for respiratory epithelial cells, and it produces hydrogen peroxide, which is thought to be responsible for much of the initial cell disruption in the respiratory tract and for damage to erythrocyte membranes.

Infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae result in pneumonia in only 3% of cases yet 77% do involve the upper respiratory tract. Although mycoplasmal pneumonia can occur at any time of the year, outbreaks tend to occur in the fall.

Pyelonephritis M.hominis has been found present in cases of pyelonephritis, kidney disease, and U.urealyticum which is more usually seen in urine samples, can be found in some types of bladder stones.

Cystitis, Bacterial Bladder Infection

Pharyngitis

Periodontal Disease - Gingivitis

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Metabolic

Headaches

Musculo-Skeletal

Rheumatoid Arthritis

TMJ Problems

Organ Health

Diabetes Type II / Risk

Respiratory

Bronchitis, Acute

Asthma

Risks

Cancer / Risk Reduction - General Measures

Skin-Hair-Nails

Psoriasis

Uro-Genital

Interstitial Cystitis Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma as a group of organisms are the least investigated and are probably the greatest cause of more chronic urinary and gynaecological problems than any other class of bacteria. They should be considered as a cause of I.C. in women and nonspecific urethritis in men.

Vaginitis/Vaginal Infection "They may also be a causative organism in bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis thought to be caused by candida. There are presently no routine culture facilities for identifying such bacteria in the British National Health Service. A high vaginal swab may yield ureaplasma even if the urine sample is shown negative. Culture facilities for M.genitalis, M. hominis and M.urealyticum should be introduced as a matter of urgency.†[Dr Fred Lim, Private Consultant in Genito-Urinary Medicine]

Urethritis / Urethral Syndrome Chronic nongonococcal urethritis may be associated with Mycoplasma infection. In men, about 15-20% of cases show U.urealyticum as a cause for non-gonococcal urethritis

Female Infertility

Mycoplasma Infection can lead to:

Autoimmune Sarcoidosis From time to time there have been reports of autoimmune disease succumbing to tetracycline antibiotics, but many have assumed this was due to coincidence, or to some ill-defined ‘anti-inflammatory property’ of the tetracyclines. But now the inflammation of Sarcoidosis has succumbed to antibiotics in two independent studies. This review examines the Cell Wall Deficient (antibiotic resistant) bacteria which have been found in tissue from patients with Sarcoidosis. It examines how such bacteria can infect the phagocytes of the immune system, and how they may therefore be responsible for not only sarcoid inflammation, but also for other autoimmune disease.

Proof positive of a bacterial pathogenesis for Sarcoidosis includes not only the demonstrated ability of these studies to put the disease into remission, but also the severity of Jarisch-Herxheimer Shock resulting from endotoxin release as the microbes are killed. Studies delineating the hormone responsible for phagocyte differentiation in the Th1 immune response, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, are discussed, and its utility as a marker of Th1 immune inflammation is reviewed. Finally, data showing that the behavior of this hormone is also aberrant in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Parkinson’s, raise the possibility that these diseases may also have a CWD bacterial pathogenesis. [Autoimmunity Reviews, Vol 3, No 4, pp 295-300]

Multiple Sclerosis / Risk

Scleroderma

Infections

Pneumonia Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, and the disease usually is of gradual onset. The prolonged paroxysmal cough seen in this disease is thought to be due to the inhibition of ciliary movement, since the organism has a filamentous end that allows it to slip between cilia within the respiratory epithelium.

The organism has a selective affinity for respiratory epithelial cells, and it produces hydrogen peroxide, which is thought to be responsible for much of the initial cell disruption in the respiratory tract and for damage to erythrocyte membranes.

Infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae result in pneumonia in only 3% of cases yet 77% do involve the upper respiratory tract. Although mycoplasmal pneumonia can occur at any time of the year, outbreaks tend to occur in the fall.

Skin-Hair-Nails

Psoriasis

Recommendations for Mycoplasma Infection:

Drug Antibiotics Doxycycline, tetracycline, clindamycin, lincomycin, and ciprofloxacin were found to be effective against Mycoplasma incognitus. But erythromycin, the antibiotic most commonly used to treat mycoplasma infections, was not effective and penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and others also had no effect. Treatment is very long term compared to the typical course of antibiotic use.

For other mycoplasmas, doxycycline at 600mg per day is needed and anything lower and the patient does seem to need repeated and unhelpful courses.

Your sexual partner must also take a high dose to stop future transmission and reinfection. Condoms are recommended when sex resumes. Circumcised men are less likely to carry it but even so, may carry the organism, too, if they were once

infected by an infected female. Repeat episodes between you must stop because doxycycline may eventually stop working.

KEY Weak or unproven link

Strong or generally accepted link

Proven definite or direct link

Likely to help

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.

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GLOSSARY

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. An immune system deficiency disorder that suddenly alters the body's ability to defend itself. The AIDS virus invades the T4 helper/inducer lymphocytes and multiplies, causing a breakdown in the body's immune system, eventually leading to overwhelming infection and/or cancer, with ultimate death.

Anaerobic: Of, relating to, or being activity in which the body incurs an oxygen debt (for example weight training or resistive exercises) and does not immediately burn off a lot of calories and fat.

Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms, without directly acting on the cause of inflammation, e.g., glucocorticoids, aspirin.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is characterized by a gradual loss of cartilage and often an overgrowth of bone at the joints.

Asthma: A lung disorder marked by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, and thick mucus coming from the lungs. The episodes may be triggered by breathing foreign substances (allergens) or pollutants, infection, vigorous exercise, or emotional stress.

Autoimmune Disease: One of a large group of diseases in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells, tissues and organs, leading to chronic and often deadly conditions. Examples include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, Bright's disease and diabetes.

Bacteria: Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.

Bronchitis: Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes, frequently accompanied by cough, hypersecretion of mucus, and expectoration of sputum. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infectious agent and of short duration. Chronic bronchitis, generally the result of smoking, may also be known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Emphysema.

Cancer: Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.

Candidiasis: Infection of the skin or mucous membrane with any species of candida, usually Candida albicans. The infection is usually localized to the skin, nails, mouth, vagina, bronchi, or lungs, but may invade the bloodstream. It is a common inhabitant of the GI tract, only becoming a problem when it multiplies excessively and invades local tissues. Growth is encouraged by a weakened immune system, as in AIDS, or with the prolonged administration of antibiotics. Vaginal symptoms include itching in the genital area, pain when urinating, and a thick odorless vaginal discharge.

Chronic: Usually Chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a disorder of unknown cause that lasts for prolonged periods and causes extreme and debilitating exhaustion as well as a wide range of other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and joint pain, often resembling flu and other viral infections. Also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), "Yuppy Flu" and other names, it is frequently misdiagnosed as hypochondria, psychosomatic illness, or depression, because routine medical tests do not detect any problems.

Ciliary: Often Ciliary activity: Activity of the eyelashes or any hairlike processes (cilia).

Crohn's Disease: Chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia.

Cytokines: Cytokines are chemical messengers that control immune responses. They are secreted by white blood cells, T cells, epithelial cells and some other body cells. There are at least 17 different kinds of interleuken and 3 classes of interferon called alpha, beta and gamma and various subsets. Interleukens and interferons are called “cytokines†and there are two general groupings, Th1 and Th2. Th1 (T-cell Helper type 1) promote cell-mediated immunity (CMI) while Th2 (T-cell Helper type 2) induce humoral immunity (antibodies).

Diabetes Mellitus: A disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin. Diabetes is found in two forms; insulin-dependent diabetes (juvenile-onset) and non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset). Symptoms include increased thirst; increased urination; weight loss in spite of increased appetite; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; frequent infections including bladder, vaginal, and skin; blurred vision; impotence in men; bad breath; cessation of menses; diminished skin fullness. Other symptoms include bleeding gums; ear noise/buzzing; diarrhea; depression; confusion.

Fibromyalgia: (FMS): Originally named fibrositis, it is a mysteriously debilitating syndrome that attacks women more often than men. It is not physically damaging to the body in any way, but is characterized by the constant presence of widespread pain that often moves about the body. Fibromyalgia can be so severe that it is often incapacitating.

Gingivitis: Inflammation of the fibrous tissues that surround the teeth.

Glucose: A sugar that is the simplest form of carbohydrate. It is commonly referred to as blood sugar. The body breaks down carbohydrates in foods into glucose, which serves as the primary fuel for the muscles and the brain.

HIV: Abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus, a retrovirus associated with onset of advanced immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Hormones: Chemical substances secreted by a variety of body organs that are carried by the bloodstream and usually influence cells some distance from the source of production. Hormones signal certain enzymes to perform their functions and, in this way, regulate such body functions as blood sugar levels, insulin levels, the menstrual cycle, and growth. These can be prescription, over-the-counter, synthetic or natural agents. Examples include adrenal hormones such as corticosteroids and aldosterone; glucagon, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, estrogens, progestins, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and calcitonin.

Immune System: A complex that protects the body from disease organisms and other foreign bodies. The system includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response. The immune system also protects the body from invasion by making local barriers and inflammation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: (IBS) A condition that causes upset intestines for a long period of time. It is very unpleasant to the sufferer but tends to be harmless and usually does not lead to more serious complaints. The symptoms vary from person to person and from day to day. In order to be diagnosed with IBS, a person must have at least three of the following symptoms: pain in the lower abdomen; bloating; constipation; diarrhea or alternating diarrhea and constipation; nausea; loss of appetite; tummy rumbling; flatulence; mucous in stools; indigestion; constant tiredness; frequent urination; low back pain; painful intercourse for women.

Leukemia: Cancer of the lymph glands and bone marrow resulting in overproduction of white blood cells (related to Hodgkin's disease).

Leukocyte: A white blood cell which appears 5,000 to 10,000 times in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. Among the most important functions are destroying bacteria, fungi and viruses and rendering harmless poisonous substances that may result from allergic reactions and cell injury.

Metabolism: The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds.

Multiple Sclerosis: Demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, causing patches of sclerosis (plaques) in the brain and spinal cord, manifested by loss of normal neurological functions, e.g., muscle weakness, loss of vision, and mood alterations.

Parasite: An organism living in or on another organism.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: (PID) A Purulent (pus-like) vaginal discharge with fever and lower abdominal pain.

Peroxides: Free radicals that are by-products formed in our bodies when molecules of fat react with oxygen.

Psoriasis: An inherited skin disorder in which there are red patches with thick, dry silvery scales. It is caused by the body making too-many skin cells. Sores may be anywhere on the body but are more common on the arms, scalp, ears, and the pubic area. A swelling of small joints may go along with the skin disease.

Pyelonephritis: Inflammation of the renal pelvis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A long-term, destructive connective tissue disease that results from the body rejecting its own tissue cells (autoimmune reaction).

TMJ: Tempero-mandibular joint - hinge of the jaw.

Virus: Any of a vast group of minute structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA that reproduces in the cells of the infected host. Capable of infecting all animals and plants, causing devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, and are completely dependent upon the cells of the infected host for the ability to reproduce.

White Blood Cell: (WBC): A blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin: a blood corpuscle responsible for maintaining the body's immune surveillance system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses or bacteria. White cells become specifically programmed against foreign invaders and work to inactivate and rid the body of a foreign substance. Also known as a leukocyte.

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