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bacteria. (Mycoplasmas: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis, | Don't be gullible about an influenza pandemic eds Jack Maniloff et al., American Society for Microbiology, Those who buy into the current drum-beating about "avian bird Washington, DC, 1992, p. 4) flu" mutating to cause a worldwide pandemic and believe that the So, you start off with some species of "walled bacteria" and it noble, courageous workers with the World Health Organization all falls apart (degenerative evolution) for one of a variety of and their flacks with the New York Times are doing their level reasons, such as the operation of penicillin. Then, select particles best to save humanity, are right in there with those who still of the bacterial DNA quickly start a search for some other cell believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone shooter in the within which it can take up residence. It is almost a virus, assassination of President Kennedy. without the protective protein coat that we noted above. Mind you, there may well be a worldwide pandemic and it may Because it is almost a virus, researchers such as Carleton well kill thousands of people a day over a period of time. But the Gajdusek in 1976 called it an "unconventional virus'"—not chances of its being the consequence of a sole, mutating, HSN1 realising that it was the same micro-organism that had been species of avian flu virus are minuscule or totally unlikely, and discovered by Nocard and Roux of the Pasteur Institute back in the chances of its being a mycoplasmal infection are very high. 1898 and given the name Mycoplasma. If there is such a pandemic, the roots will go much deeper than In 1944, Monroe Davis Eaton, an American microbiologist, simply a mutating avian virus. The roots will more likely be deep stumbled upon the organism and named it after himself: the in the mysteries of the Mycoplasma, its characteristics and its "Eaton agent". growing prevalence. We believe that such a pandemic, if it When AIDS researcher Dr Robert should occur, will not be the consequence of Huebner was investigating the pathogenic chance, such as is claimed about the source of atypical pneumonia in US naval continuing pandemics of AIDS and chronic recruits in the mid-1940s, he called the fatigue syndrome (CFS). micro-organism a "pleural pneumonia An influenza pandemic will be as much a organism". In 1946, when he found the planned event as was the unleashing of same pathogen in the degenerating adenoids AIDS and CFS onto the world: all part of a of some recruits, he called it a "pleural profound, long-range plan to reduce the pneumonia-like organism" (PPLO). The mycoplasmal world's population. Finally, because the disease onset seemed . to be 8 long in presenting, various damage IS as Precautions you can take researchers including Gajdusek called the i i Among the important facts about pathogen a "slow virus" or "lentivirus"—a important ea if not influenza that you need to know are those term coined in 1947 by Dr Bjorn more important than, that we have already alluded to: Sigurdsson. the bacterial and viral a) the three-pronged pathogenic Thus, today we are faced with the antecedents (bacteria, viruses and original Nocard and Roux micro- damage done to mycoplasmas); organism, the Mycoplasma, which turns up in the literature as the "Eaton agent", the "pleural pneumonia-like organism", the "unconventional virus", the "lentivirus", and later the "amyloid" and then the "prion". Some of the name confusion we believe is intentional. When the mycoplasma finds a cell which will allow it to cross the cellular membrane, the mycoplasma will generally lie peacefully, doing no musculoskeletal systems. harm to its new host until it is Here are some other facts that you subjected to some kind of trauma. should evaluate. The pattern of disease incidence among a The body of which the cell is a part may be subjected to a rear- society is shaped broadly like a stretched out "W". First, infant end automobile accident, or it may be traumatised by a fall on the and young children are statistically more vulnerable than older ice. Even the news that a dear and valued friend has died can children. Then there appears to be a statistical levelling off at a produce a trauma sufficient to rouse the dormant mycoplasma lower incidence until the early 20s, at which age influenza rates into life. increase to the age of 30 or so, then decline until age forty. When so roused into activity, certain species of the DNA Another levelling off occurs until the late 50s and on into mycoplasmal particle will begin to up-take pre-formed sterols advanced age. from its new host, ultimately killing that host. The totality can be So, infants whose immune system is not sufficiently developed called a "mycoplasmal infection" and can present as, for are potential victims. If you are aware of this fact, you will take example, pneumonia, wherein the cells in the lungs begin to additional steps to protect children 10 years and under, e.g., you degenerate and release fluid which floods the alveoli, or air- will not place your youngster in day care or kindergarten or other containing cells of the lungs. groups as long as the flu is known to be a possibility. Keep the The mycoplasmal damage is as important as, if not more child at home in a warm, well-aired environment. important than, the bacterial and viral damage done to a patient inflicted with influenza. Continued on page 81 b) the tendency of these pathogens to concentrate and hence become more dangerous when potential people or animals are crowded together for extended periods of time; and c) the distinction between the damage done by influenza itself (often, indeed, usually innocuous) and that done by the other pathogens to a broad range of human body systems such as the nervous, digestive and a patient inflicted with influenza. The mycoplasmal damage is as important as, if not more important than, the bacterial and viral damage done to a patient inflicted with influenza. 32 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2006 Continued on page 81 www.nexusmagazine.com