Hypothesis: MS is caused by a bacterium living in your sinuses

Epub ahead of printEbringer et al. The role of Acinetobacter in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis examined by using Popper sequences. Med Hypotheses. 2012 Apr 5. 

MS is an autoimmune neurological disorder. The role of 'Acinetobacter' has been examined using the method of Karl Popper and involves nine "Popper sequences". (1) The frequency of MS increases with latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, and the reverse is found in the Southern Hemisphere. (2) Sinusitis is found frequently at colder latitudes. (3) Sinusitis occurs frequently in patients with MS. (4) Specific sequences of bovine myelin when injected into experimental animals will produce a neurological disorder resembling MS which is called "experimental allergic encephalomyelitis". (5) Computer analysis of myelin shows molecular mimicry with sequences found in Acinetobacter. (6) Antibodies to Acinetobacter bacteria are found in MS patients. (7) Acinetobacter bacteria are located on human skin and in the nasal sinuses. (8) IgA antibodies are preferentially elevated in the sera of MS patients, thereby suggesting the trigger microbe is acting across a mucosal surface probably located in the nasal sinuses. (9) Only Acinetobacter bacteria and no other microbes evoke statistically significant titres of antibodies in MS patients. These nine Popper sequences suggest that MS is most probably caused by infections with Acinetobacter bacteria in the nasal sinuses, and this could have therapeutic implications.


"Who was Karl Popper? He was famous scientific philosopher who popularised the approach of disproving rather than proving a hypothesis."

"Does this hypothesis have legs? I am not sure, but as always I am up for new ideas. This needs to tested using causation theory; it will require a lot of thought, experiments and only then could we start debating causation. I pleased to note that has been proposed as a hypothesis and not fact. It is a great pity that CCSVI was not presented as a hypothesis for testing, before it was adopted by so many so fast." 

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