Project 1: Microbiology of ME/CFS

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Project 1 Microbiology of ME/CFS Abstract Many patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) report a prodrome consistent with infection and/or inflammation. Up to 40% of patients are reported to respond to intravenous infusions of the Toll-like receptor 3 agonist, Ampligen, a double-stranded RNA analogue proposed to inhibit viral replication. Others report responses to antiviral drugs specific for herpesviruses, pre- and probiotics or fecal transplantation, or monoclonal antibodies that deplete B cells. We hypothesize that at least some ME/CFS patients have an infectious trigger for their disease, and that failures to implicate infectious agents reflect inadequate sampling and/or inappropriate assays. To explore the role of infection and immunity in ME/CFS, we will exploit sensitive sequence-based methods for detection and characterization of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, using blood, oral, and fecal samples from well characterized ME/CFS cases and controls. This project has the potential to lead to the development of animal models based on dysbiosis as well as the identification of patients with ME/CFS who may benefit from antiviral, antibiotic, or probiotic interventions.