Renegade Bacterial Genetic Sequences in a Stealth Adapted Virus: Biological and Diagnostic Implications

Abstract

There are major differences between viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells in the structuring of their genomes, modes of replication, and capacity to horizontally transfer genetic sequences. DNA sequencing of a cloned African green monkey simian cytomegalovirus (SCMV) indicate the inclusion of certain bacterial and cellular genetic sequences. The virus was cultured from a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patient. It is stealth adapted with the loss or mutation of the genes coding for the relatively few viral components normally targeted by the cellular immune system. This article identifies the likely origins of many of the bacterial-derived genetic sequences present in this virus. There are multiple clones with close but non-identical sequence alignments with different genomic regions of the Ochrobactrum quorumnocens A44 species of bacteria. Another set of clones matched most closely to diverse genomic regions of Mycoplasma fermentans bacteria. The sequences of several other clones could only be approximately aligned to those of different types of bacteria. The sequence of clone 3B513 is consistent with genetic contributions from the genomes of several types of bacteria. The term viteria refers to viruses with bacteria-derived genetic sequences. Stealth adapted viruses are the likely primary cause of CFS and autism, and possibly act as cofactors in many illnesses including AIDS. The additional incorporation of bacterial sequences into these viruses can potentially lead to the mistaken diagnoses of a bacterial chronic illness rather than a viral infection. Stealth adapted virus testing should be performed in illnesses attributed to Mycoplasma, Borrelia, and Streptococcal infections.