New comprehensive viral test.

The clinical, or even laboratory, detection and identification of viruses has been difficult. Lots of viruses presently go undetected, even when targeted.

But a new method of virus detection has been announced (below). In time, it may be possible for all of us with Meniere’s to have such a text, which would tell the exact virus — if any — causing our symptoms. The new test detects even new, unknown genetic variants, something important for the apparently often obscure (or un-described) herpes viruses that can be root causes of Meniere’s symptoms.

Just when this new test will be clinically available is unknown. The sooner, the better. The test will probably not be cheap.

Info here:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/wuso-ntd092915.php

–John of Ohio

 

No, this is different. That first test tests for antibodies the body makes in reaction to the presence of a virus. This new test sequences the genetic nucleotide bases of viruses. Much more accurate, as the body doesn’t do any of the first sensing to make any antibodies.

This is also why new genetic variants of viruses will be detected. Their unique genomes will be sequenced.

This is much more accurate.

--John of Ohio

 

This won't enable a cure; rather an effective treatment, with an existing antiherpetic drug (such as acyclovir) known to terminate viral replication. This treatment protocol already exists (see posting below), but usually there is no specific determination of a viral presence. The drug is merely administered on the belief (accurate, about 85% of the time) that some herpes virus is causing the symptoms. The new test will be able to detect Meniere's cases that are not caused by a herpes (or other) virus; thereby directing some other more appropriate therapy.

Here's info on treatment of viral Meniere's: http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=557.0

--John of Ohio

 

No detection of the localization of a detected virus. But that's essentially immaterial. If ya gots a virus, nail it, wherever it is.

--John of Ohio

 

But this new (not clinically proven or used yet) antiviral protocol, DRACO, has not demonstrated an antiherpetic efficacy. It may not treat herpes infections. No mention of any of the multitude of herpes viruses in the DRACO paper.

Secondly, the DRACO treatment does not actually destroy or disable any pathogenic virus; rather, it prompts virus-containing human cells to undergo apoptosis, induced cell death. Therefore, if a good portion of inner ear cells were infected with a DRACO-susceptible virus, all of those cells would be killed off. That might eliminate the virus in aural tissues, but after the treatment those tissues might be severely disabled by the induced cell death from the drug. I'm not too excited about DRACO for Meniere's yet.

--John of Ohio