Spirochete round bodies Syphilis, Lyme disease & AIDS: Resurgence of “the great imitator”?

Abstract

We advocate investigation of spirochete cyclical symbioses (e.g., Borrelia sp., Leptospira sp., Treponema sp.) given the newly established verification of a developmental history in these gram-negative motile helical eubacteria, both in pure culture and in mammals. Symbiotic spirochetes can be compared to free-living relatives for their levels of integration (behavioral, metabolic, gene product or genetic levels). Detailed research that correlates life histories of symbiotic spirochetes to changes in the immune system of associated vertebrates is sorely needed. Genome analyses show that in necrotrophic symbioses (Borrelia and Treponema sp.) of humans and other primates, integration of the bionts occurs at the gene product and genetic level. Spirochete round bodies (also called cysts, L-forms and sphaeroplasts) can be induced by many types of unfavorable conditions (e.g., threats of starvation, desiccation, oxidation, penicillin and other antibiotics). Reversion to familiar helical, motile active swimmers by placement of pure cultures into favorable environments in some cases can be controlled. These observationsare supported by a European literature, especially Russian, apparently unknown to American medicine and medical research.

Destruction of spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi round-body propagules (RBs) by the antibiotic Tigecycline

“…The seme of formation of viable RBs is widespread in the phylum and no doubt was present in the free-living ancestors of necrotrophic spirochetes. Spore-like structures inside round bodies of Spirosymplokos deltaeiberi (1,23,46) may be comparable with the cores structures of Borrelia described here. In any case, such resistant spirochete forms are fully viable, and in natural habitats (mud and microbial mats) they revert to growing helices when favorable conditions for growth return.…”

“…Life histories of at least six genera of spirochetes (Table 2) permit us to conclude that well-studied healthy spirochetes in nature form viable round bodies (RBs) quickly in response to numerous unfavorable conditions. This morphological transition from periplasmically flagellated, helically motile spirochetes to RBs develops naturally in mixed and pure cultures under conditions that tend to limit growth, and is reversible (23). Many spirochetes under inhibitory changes in oxygen or sulfide concentration fail to form cross walls and elongate into unrecognizable filaments (7).…”

“…They form a cohesive taxon, a prokaryotic phylum (22) detectable by DNA sequence analysis that corresponds precisely to the 16 Svedberg-unit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) component of the small 30S ribosomal subunit. Spirochetes, with their Gram-negative cell walls and internal (i.e., ''periplasmic'') flagella between the inner and outer membranes, are distinctive at the level of thin section-electron microscopy (23). The plasma (inner) membrane is universal in all bacterial (i.e., prokaryotic) and eukaryotic cells, but the outer lipoprotein membrane that surrounds the peptidoglycan layer of the wall characterizes Gram-negative bacteria.…”

“…Although terminologcal confusion (cysts, granules, RBs, vesicles, etc.) exacerbated the problem, the dismissal of an entire scientific literature was unjustified (23).…”

“There is no proof that HIV causes AIDS”: AIDS denialism beliefs among people living with HIV/AIDS

“…Unfortunately, ignoring AIDS denialists has not addressed the problem and AIDS denialism is flourishing as a result (Casey, 2009; Duesberg, et al, 2009; Farber, 2006; Howard, 2009; Lenzer, 2008; Margulis, et al, 2009). AIDS denialism promotes the idea that HIV is harmless and cannot cause any disease, most certainly not AIDS.…”