Chronic Fatigue Virus Saga Continues – Murine Leukemia Virus or MLV Found by FDA and NIH

The chronic fatigue virus saga continues. Today, the NIH, FDA and CDC held a teleconference and provided additional evidence of an association between a virus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But instead of focusing directly on XMRV like I thought they would, most of the call was centered on a family of viruses called murine leukemia virus-related virus or MLV.  Apparently, XMRV is one of several viruses of the MLV virus family.

Blood samples from more than 80% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were tested and found to have viral gene sequences and genetic code similar to those of murine leukemia virus (or MLV) which causes leukemia in mice.

The government researchers noted considerable genetic diversity among the MLV-like viruses they found in their CFS patients rather than the homogeneity of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) linked in other studies to chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers reported finding three distinct types of MLV-related virus gag sequences which apparently are more closely related to sequences of polytropic mouse endogenous retroviruses than to XMRV. XMRV is among several different members of the MLV family, researchers said.

The researchers, including Dr. Shyh Ching Lo of the FDA and Dr. Harvey Alter of NIH, we careful to not confirm that an infectious agent like MLV or XMRV causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The good news is they were on the record to say they believe the central argument by the Whittemore Peterson Institute.  They also said that WPI is now finding more genetic diversity in their CFS patients after doing further studies.

The researchers also discussed the need to continue the investigation of XMRV, MLV, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I hope they will take it further. My six year old identical twins are infected with XMRV and we need studies on children that that have genetic conditions like Niemann Pick Type C combined with XMRV infection — do they influence each other?  I believe they do. Many kids like Addi and Cassi are dealing with two severe conditions at the same time — genetic conditions combined with viruses.  Also, I am going to talk to Dr. Caroline Hastings, who not only treats Addi and Cassi, but also kids with leukemia. I am wondering if her patients would test positive for either of these viruses?

NIH press release is here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-presence-of-murine-leukemia-virus-related-gene-sequences-found-in-cfs-patients-101316939.html