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Early Findings with Penicillin and the New Antibiotics | Superantigens, Superbugs, Superinfections Especially initially, many deaths were reported in the Moreover, another scourge—the superantigen—has recipients of penicillin (Coleman and Siegel, 1955) and appeared on the scene (Zumla, 1992; Schlievert, 1993). later on with other antibiotics. Superantigens include bacterial products (mainly of Coleman and Siegel's article also unwittingly — streptococci and staphylococci) that stimulate T-cells to demonstrated the significant submolecular dose _ proliferate nonspecifically through interaction with (homeopathic) effect of antibiotics and the practica class II major histocompatibility complex products on inability to sterilise even with the most stringen antigen-presenting cells and then with variable regions sterilising equipment (e.g., the autoclave). on the beta chain of the T-cell receptor complex. They After practically immediately, as it became obvious are molecules, including endogenous retroviral gene that all micro-organisms develop resistance to all and products and microbial toxins, which share a unique set any new antibiotics developed, instead o of characteristics. It is probable that associations are discontinuing the use of any antibiotics present between superantigen-induced proliferation of microbiologists began a race to produce more and anergy (lack of response) of peripheral blood T-cells and more (damaging) broad-spectrum clinical manifestations of human antibiotics. The list of antibiotics infectious diseases. developed is endless. Let's pause here a little. How come The hopelessness of the situation these new superantigens appeared in is perhaps best illustrated in an . the late 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and article in the Weekend Australian The trail of facts especially in the 1980s, and not 100 (Cribb, 1991), which contains the leads toa years ago? The trail of facts leads to a following quotes: . . combination of multiple antigens in "A leading Australian combination of vaccines (causing serious immune microbiologist...has warned that a multiple antigens suppression) and the indiscriminate strain of golden staph resistant to all : : use of antibiotics (creating but one of the main antibiotics is In vaccines particularly virulent forms of such now widespread in Australian (causing serious commensals as Staphylococcus aureus hospitals"; "It almost seems that for immune and Streptococcus spp.). Needless to every new antibiotic we come up say, clinically these with, the bugs find two or three suppression) superantigens result in ways to resist it"; "One of the superinfections and lethal toxic startling...findings is that many and the shock syndrome resisting al common reatments may indiscriminate use orthodox treatment. (However, actually help the bugs to spread ‘bee know of at least one case where their resistance"; and "Our great of antibiotics... massive doses of sodium ascorbate healed a festering superbug—a flesh-eating bug— infection within three days and saved the person from a foo fear is that if they become resistant to vancomycin and related drugs, we'll be back where we were before the discovery of penicillin". The amputation. microbiologist ended with: “In Even though many authors the meantime we can only hope and pray it doesn't blame infectious diseases such as chickenpox and develop resistance to vancomycin and any new measles, they forget that vaccines and antibiotics antibiotics which might be developed.” derange the immune response to these normally otwithstanding the questionable effectiveness of | innocuous and eminently treatable childhood diseases. his prayer, the bugs did develop solid immunity to In my well-considered opinion, we are worse off than vancomycin (Karanfil et al., 1992) as well as to all we were before penicillin was discovered. The subsequent new antibiotics. iatrogenic diseases caused by the indiscriminate use of ndeed, Professor Fleming himself had misgivings antibiotics form a long list and are overloading the about penicillin because he envisaged, correctly, that already stretched medical (ill health) and hospital bacteria would develop resistance to it. system in so-called developed countries. Ignorant The unfortunate situation is due to orthodox people are calling for billions of dollars for more and medicine's acceptance of the germ theory of disease, more hospitals and pharmaceuticals. While promising which was renounced even by its originator Louis more money, the politicians and all and sundry fail to Pasteur with his famous last words: ask themselves whether it is a sign of progress to have "The seed [the germ] is nothing; the soil [the host more and more hospitals full of sick people. The resistance] is everything." answer is a definite no. use leads to a multiple antigens in vaccines (causing serious immune suppression) __ and the NEXUS ¢ 43 The trail of facts combination of indiscriminate use of antibiotics... AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com