Mycobacterium vaccae
Encyclopedia
Mycobacterium vaccae is a nonpathogenic species of the Mycobacteriaceae family of bacteria that lives naturally in soil
. Its name originates from the Latin
word, vacca (cow), since it was first cultured from cow dung
in Austria
. Research areas being pursued with regard to killed Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine include immunotherapy
for allergic asthma
, cancer
, depression
, leprosy
, psoriasis
, dermatitis
, eczema
and tuberculosis
.
There are scientist
s who believe that exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae may work as an antidepressant
because it stimulates the generation of serotonin
and norepinephrine
in the brain. More specifically, it induces the neurogenesis
of neurons that produce those two compounds.
M. vaccae is in the same genus
as Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, the bacterium which causes tuberculosis
. Early trials indicated that exposure to M. vaccae would relieve tuberculosis symptoms. However, a 2002 review found no benefit from immunotherapy
with M. vaccae in people with tuberculosis. There seems to be varying results because of two different forms of the bacterium ("smooth" and "rough"), plus individual response to vaccination
from it.
Research, , has shown that when Mycobacterium vaccae was injected into mice, it stimulated some growth of neurons. It also increased levels of serotonin an decreased levels of anxiety. "We found that mice that were fed live M. vaccae navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety behaviors as control mice", says Dorothy Matthews of The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York, who conducted the research with her colleague Susan Jenks.
There are two main variants of Mycobacterium vaccae according to their appearance in a culture dish. One is smooth and one is rough. Immunological response in mammals to the bacterium varies greatly according to which variant is used. In one study, Mycobacterium vaccae was cultured on "tryptone soy agar medium
, collected, and heat killed at 121°C for 15 min."
AnHui Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (Longcom) produces a Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine with the trade name "Vaccae" for the treatment of tuberculosis.. Immunitor Inc. reported success with its oral formulation of M. vaccae in treating tuberculosis .
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. Its name originates from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word, vacca (cow), since it was first cultured from cow dung
Cow dung
Cow dung is the waste product of bovine animal species. These species include domestic cattle , bison , yak and water buffalo. Cow dung is the undigested residue of plant matter which has passed through the animal's gut. The resultant faecal matter is rich in minerals...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Research areas being pursued with regard to killed Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine include immunotherapy
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...
for allergic asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
, psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
, dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
, eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
There are scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s who believe that exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae may work as an antidepressant
Antidepressant
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder. According to Gelder, Mayou &*Geddes people with a depressive illness will experience a therapeutic effect to their mood;...
because it stimulates the generation of serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...
and norepinephrine
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is the US name for noradrenaline , a catecholamine with multiple roles including as a hormone and a neurotransmitter...
in the brain. More specifically, it induces the neurogenesis
Neurogenesis
Neurogenesis is the process by which neurons are generated from neural stem and progenitor cells. Most active during pre-natal development, neurogenesis is responsible for populating the growing brain with neurons. Recently neurogenesis was shown to continue in several small parts of the brain of...
of neurons that produce those two compounds.
M. vaccae is in the same genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
as Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacterial species in the genus Mycobacterium and the causative agent of most cases of tuberculosis . First discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch, M...
, the bacterium which causes tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Early trials indicated that exposure to M. vaccae would relieve tuberculosis symptoms. However, a 2002 review found no benefit from immunotherapy
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...
with M. vaccae in people with tuberculosis. There seems to be varying results because of two different forms of the bacterium ("smooth" and "rough"), plus individual response to vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
from it.
Research, , has shown that when Mycobacterium vaccae was injected into mice, it stimulated some growth of neurons. It also increased levels of serotonin an decreased levels of anxiety. "We found that mice that were fed live M. vaccae navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety behaviors as control mice", says Dorothy Matthews of The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York, who conducted the research with her colleague Susan Jenks.
There are two main variants of Mycobacterium vaccae according to their appearance in a culture dish. One is smooth and one is rough. Immunological response in mammals to the bacterium varies greatly according to which variant is used. In one study, Mycobacterium vaccae was cultured on "tryptone soy agar medium
Trypticase soy agar
Trypticase soy agar is a bacterial growth medium.The medium contains enzymatic digests of casein and soybean meal which provides amino acids and other nitrogenous substances making it a nutritious medium for a variety of organisms. Glucose is the energy source. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic...
, collected, and heat killed at 121°C for 15 min."
AnHui Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (Longcom) produces a Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine with the trade name "Vaccae" for the treatment of tuberculosis.. Immunitor Inc. reported success with its oral formulation of M. vaccae in treating tuberculosis .
External links
- Bacteria and depression -- Bad is good (The Economist)
- Treatment of conditions of the central nervous system using mycobacteria - Patent 20030170275 (www.freepatentsonline.com)
- U.S. Patent 10258550 - (Google Patents)
- http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=1999%2F32634&IA=WO1999%2F32634&DISPLAY=DSC Compositions Derived From Mycobacterium Vaccae and Methods for Their Use (Patentscope)
- Can bacteria make you smarter?
- Google translated article from Spanish