The Open Mycology Journal

2008, 2 : 22-28
Published online 2008 March 12. DOI: 10.2174/1874437000802010022
Publisher ID: TOMYCJ-2-22

Fungal Infection in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Marta Ramos , Diana Pisa , Susana Molina , Alberto Rábano , Ángeles Juarranz and Luis Carrasco
Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma. Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid. Spain.

ABSTRACT

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the nervous system that may provoke a variety of symptoms, including motor and sensory dysfunctions. The infectious nature of this devastating disease has been proposed. We have investigated for the presence of fungal infection in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Our results provide evidence that in all seven patients studied there are signs of fungal infection. Thus, some of these patients exhibit high antibody titers against several Candida spp. In addition, quantitative PCR indicates that six out of seven patients contain fungal DNA in blood. Four contain significant amounts of β-1,3 glucan in serum, while the presence of fungal antigens was evident in practically all of them, though to different extents. Yeast antibody and antigen analyses reveal the presence of both in cerebrospinal fluid. Two possibilities can be put forward to account for these findings: one is that fungal infection causes multiple sclerosis; another is that fungal proliferation occurs as a result of immune system dysfunction.

Keywords:

Multiple sclerosis, fungal infection, candida antibodies.