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Now up: Dr. Ron Davis on OMF projects. Started w/ severe patient study. Focused on observation-- necessary BEFORE hypothesis generation, tho no NIH funding for it. #harvardmecfs #pwme 
Focus on pathogen search-- developed new technologies incl search for DNA fragments in blood which can identify new viruses. W/ this tech, HIV virus wld have been found in under 24 hours! But no sig differences found w/ controls. #harvardmecfs #pwme
Parasite search: Similarity to sleeping sickness, incl sleep cycle inversion (up at night), so maybe unknown tripanosome? None found yet tho. Left to do: RNA viruses (hard), fungi (also hard), bacteria (hardest bc so many bacteria in body w/ different functions). #harvardmecfs
Focus on biomarkers-- recent publication of nanoneedle test of electrical impedance w/ significant difference found in 20 patients. Looked at 10 more pts and controls. Now only 1 chance in billion this is not accurate finding. #harvardmecfs #pwme
Ready to do screening of all FDA drugs-- have them in freezer, will start when new hi-thoughput version of nanoneedle ready. Constantly doing other tests too- eg learned that patients consume more glucose than heathy controls. #harvardmecfs #pwme
Possible other tech to use: cell-sorter based on electrical properies. 10c cost instead of $150K commercial. Can send this chip to anyone by email for regular printer using liquid silver as ink. Still trialing methods to find impedance signal. #HarvardMECFS #pwme
Have started drug screening: Copaxone (MS drug) and SS31 (repairs mitochondria) both corrected signal. #harvardmecfs #pwme
Looking for other biomarkers too bc will likely need combo to distinguish #mecfs from related conditions. RBC deformability may be good one. Use high-speed camera in device simlulating capillary flow. Decrease in all patients tested to date. Will run on lots of pts. #harvardmecfs
Measuring heavy metals in hair using mass spect. 1/3 have higher mercury levels, prob from fish. High uranium in some, maybe from well water. High merc causes low selenium- test for both at once. Se converts T4 to T3 and used by antiox enzymes, but toxic if too much #harvardmecfs
Recent discovery from sequencing: all severe patients had 1+ IDO2 nonfunctional mutation. Co. did sequencing for free! 46 more patients all had it too-- makes it highly significant. Not a cause alone bc in 75% of ppl, but may be necessary precondition. #harvardmecfs #pwme
Tryptophan- essential amino acid from diet. Used to make Serotonin and Melatonin. In other dir w/ IDO1 & 2, makes Kynurenine, regulator of immune system-- suppresses auto-immunity and brain inflammation. Need NAD in mitochondria to make ATP. #harvardmecfs #pwme
IDO1&2 ignored, knowledge from 1960s. IDO1 unusual bc substrate-inhibited. IDO2 on way out- not very essential unless trapped. Maybe only used once a lifetime normally. Special mass spect to measure kyn- long waiting list. Cld mean 75% of population vulnerable #HarvardMECFS #pwme
Optimistc. Will keep making and testing hypotheses. Looking for plan to get ppl out of trap-- some ideas on this. Best test of metabolic trap hypothesis will be to see if treatment works! #harvardmecfs #pwme
