• ME and XMRV virus link 'caused by contamination'
    ME and HMRV link disproven

News & Views

ME and XMRV virus link 'caused by contamination'

Dec 22 2010

The latest laboratory news has revealed that a new study may disprove a theory linking the XMRV virus with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Scientists at University College London conducted research that found cell samples previously believed to suggest a link between the two were in fact tainted, the report featured in Retrovirology explains.

"All our evidence shows that the sequences from the virus genome in cell culture have contaminated human chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer samples," Professor Greg Towers of the university's Infection & Immunity department said.

He went on to clarify that the condition - also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) – is not caused by XMRV.

It is thought the cells may have been contaminated by mouse DNA and as a result, the authors of the study have called for more rigorous lab methods to prevent this occurring again.

According to the ME Association around 250,000 people in the UK suffer from the condition.
 

Digital Edition

Lab Asia 31.2 April 2024

April 2024

In This Edition Chromatography Articles - Approaches to troubleshooting an SPE method for the analysis of oligonucleotides (pt i) - High-precision liquid flow processes demand full fluidic c...

View all digital editions

Events

Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024

Apr 08 2024 Edinburgh 2024

analytica 2024

Apr 09 2024 Munich, Germany

ChemBio Finland 2024

Apr 10 2024 Helsinki, Finland

Analytica Anacon India & IndiaLabExpo

Apr 15 2024 Mumbai, India

Analitika Expo 2024

Apr 16 2024 Moscow, Russia

View all events