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Thanks to Andrea Whittemore for the following post:
The Lombardi et al. and Lo et al. studies were done using four different methods of detection. They were not simply PCR experiments, as were the studies by McClure et al. and others who have recently reported their difficulties with contamination.
Experienced researchers such as Mikovits, Lombardi, Lo and their collaborators understand the limitations of PCR technology, especially the possibility of sample contamination.
As a result, we and Lo et al. conducted rigorous studies to prevent and rule out any possibility that the results reported were from contamination. In addition to the use of PCR methodology, the Lombardi team used two other scientific techniques to determine whether, in fact, we had found new retroviruses in human blood samples.
We identified a human antibody response to a gamma retroviral infection and we demonstrated that live gamma retrovirus isolated from human blood could infect human cells in culture.
These scientific findings cannot be explained by contamination with mouse cells, mouse DNA or XMRV-related virus-contaminated human tumor cells. No mouse cell lines and none of the human cell lines reported today by Hue et al. to contain XMRV were ever cultured in the WPI lab where our PCR experiments were performed.
Humans cannot make antibodies to viruses related to murine leukemia viruses unless they have been exposed to virus proteins.
Therefore, recent publications regarding PCR contamination do not change the conclusions of the Lombardi et al. and Lo et al. studies that concluded that patients with ME/CFS are infected with human gammaretroviruses.
We have never claimed that CFS was caused by XMRV, only that CFS patients possess antibodies to XMRV related proteins and harbor infectious XMRV, which integrates into human chromosomes and thus is a human infection of as yet unknown pathogenic potential
“The coauthors stand by the conclusions of Lombardi et al. Nothing that has been published to date refutes our data.” Judy A. Mikovits
CFS Untied
It is NOT contamination. I feel so much better since Dr. Mikovits responded.
Patricia Carter
I feel better about the science. I feel worse about the politics, and I didn’t think that was possible.
You better watch out,
you better not lie,
better not distort, I’m tellin’ you why,
The WPI is coming to town.
We’re making a list, and checking it twice.
Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice….
Love it Erik! .. 2nd verse ..
They know when you’ve been cheatin’,
They know when you’re a fake,
If you’re not a true scientist
Then get lost for goodness sake ..
An excellent response from the WPI to this shameful episode in the sorry, shabby, shady history of ME/CFS. The UK media were so quick to report on these pathetically desperate and transparent attempts to bury this breakthrough in research and never mention the Lo/Alter paper, or other positive research findings, making it appear that there has only ever been one study finding a retroviral link to the disease.
The response of the patient community so far is to double their efforts to raise funds for the WPI throughout the coming year. We know who we can trust. We know who’s naughty and who’s nice! Thanks for posting Khaly.
This made ade me feel better about it all. thank you.xxx
ps love the song!…who’s going to record it? lol
I think in one day it was made pretty obvious who puts politics first and who puts honest science first.
The definitions of the political forces at play here have become cyrstal clear by these publications.
Once again it’s up to the patients to get the truth out to every publication
we can…
I see Dr. Enlander and Racaniello have made positive statements, too;
see the RSS Feed on FB.
Thanks, Khaly, for keeping on top of things, as always! <3