New Reseach on Morgellons(NOT fake CDC one!)

Morgellons Disease: A Chemical and Light Microscopic Study
Marianne J. Middelveen1, Elizabeth H. Rasmussen2, Douglas G. Kahn3 and Raphael B. Stricker1*
1International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD
2College of Health Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
3Department of Pathology, Olive View - UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California
*Corresponding author: Raphael B. Stricker, MD 450 Sutter Street, Suite 1504 San Francisco, CA 94108, USA Tel: (415)399-1035 Fax: (415) 399-1057 E-mail: rstricker@usmamed.com
Received January 27, 2012; Accepted March 12, 2012; Published March 16, 2012
Citation: Middelveen MJ, Rasmussen EH, Kahn DG, Stricker RB (2012) Morgellons Disease: A Chemical and Light Microscopic Study. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 3:140. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000140
Copyright: © 2012 Middelveen MJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Morgellons disease is an emerging multisystem illness characterized by unexplained dermopathy and unusual skinassociated filament production. Despite evidence demonstrating that an infectious process is involved and that lesions are not self-inflicted, many medical practitioners continue to claim that this illness is delusional. We present relevant clinical observations combined with chemical and light microscopic studies of material collected from three patients with Morgellons disease. Our study demonstrates that Morgellons disease is not delusional and that skin lesions with unusual fibers are not self-inflicted or psychogenic. We provide chemical, light microscopic and immunohistological evidence that filaments associated with this condition originate from human epithelial cells, supporting the hypothesis that the fibers are composed of keratin and are products of keratinocytes.
Keywords
Morgellons disease; Digital dermatitis; Lyme disease; Borrelia burgdorferi; Spirochetes; Keratin
Introduction
Morgellons disease (MD) is an emerging dermatological disorder and multisystem illness. The disease is characterized by unexplained dermopathy associated with formation of unusual filaments found both subcutaneously and emerging from spontaneously appearing, slow-healing skin lesions [1]. Filaments associated with MD appear beneath unbroken skin [1,2], thus demonstrating that they are not self-implanted. Filaments have been observed protruding from and attached to a matrix of epithelial cells [3]. This finding demonstrates that the filaments are of human cellular origin and are not textile fibers. These filaments have not been matched with known textile fibers, and dye-extracting solvents have failed to release coloration; the fibers are also very strong and heat resistant [4,5]. MD filaments are physically and chemically consistent with keratin, a biofiber produced in the epithelium by keratinocytes. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that these filaments have a protein composition that is consistent with keratin [6].
Lyme disease-like symptoms in MD such as neurological disorders and joint pain are evidence of systemic involvement [1,2,7] . Objective clinical evidence of disease has been demonstrated by its association with peripheral neuropathy, delayed capillary refill, decreased body temperature, tachycardia, elevated pro-inflammatory markers, cytokine release, selective immune deficiency and elevated insulin levels, suggesting that an infectious process is involved [8,9]. Patients may demonstrate abnormal laboratory findings indicative of low-grade anemia, endocrine dysfunction, immune dysfunction and inflammation [8,10]. Patients with MD are predominantly seroreactive to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antigens, suggesting a likelihood of Lyme borreliosis or related spirochetal infection [1,10]. Patients also demonstrate a higher than expected percentage of positive laboratory findings for other tick-borne diseases, suggesting the possible involvement of coinfecting pathogens [10].
The observation of unusual filaments forming in lesions is not unique to humans afflicted with MD. Similarities between MD and bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) have been described [3]. BDD is an emerging disease afflicting cattle and is characteristically associated with unusual filament formation in skin above the hooves [11]. Latestage proliferative lesions demonstrate elongation of keratinocytes, hyperkeratosis, and proliferation of long keratin filaments [12-14]. Consistent detection of spirochetes associated with lesions is evidence of spirochetal etiologic involvement [15-20]. Experimental induction of lesions with tissue homogenates [21] and pure cultured treponemes [22] supports a role for spirochetes as primary etiologic agents.
Like BDD, MD is associated with apparent spirochetal infection and unusual filament production [3]. A comparison between BDD and MD suggests that the unusual fibers seen in MD patients may result from hyperkeratosis and filament production as described in BDD. It appears that MD fibers are likewise composed of keratin produced by keratinocytes, a phenomenon that has been demonstrated in BDD [3]. The following three case studies provide further evidence supporting this hypothesis.
Materials and Methods
Human and bovine samples
Three patients meeting the clinical criteria for Morgellons disease collected calluses, scabs, filaments, and other dermatological debris and submitted the material for microscopic examination. The collected samples were examined by bright-field microscopy at 100x magnification. Specimens were illuminated either superior or posterior to the specimen. Some specimens were also illuminated with ultraviolet (UV) light.
Biopsies from cattle with BDD were kindly provided by Dr. Dorte Dopfer, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. Biopsy material from proliferative late stage BDD was examined for comparison to MD samples with 8x magnification under a dissecting microscope. This material was also tested for fluorescence under UV light.
For the chemical experiments, samples of normal hair, filaments from Cases 1 and 2 and BDD fibers were studied for reactivity to three caustic agents: sodium hypochlorite 12%, sodium hydroxide 10%, and potassium hydroxide 10%. Each sample was suspended in 150 μl of the chemical solution for up to two hours, and serial light microscopy was performed at 0, 1, 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes. Dissolution of fibers was assessed by fraying, loss of shape and/or disintegration at each timepoint.
For the immunohistological experiments, filament samples from Cases 1 and 2 were stained for keratin using monoclonal antibodies. Briefly, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded filaments were incubated with monoclonal antibodies AE1/AE3 (Dako North America Inc, Carpinteria, CA) and AE5/AE6 (Cell Marque Corporation, Rocklin, CA) directed against cytokeratins 1/3 and 5/6, respectively, using the Envision® + Dual-Link System-HRP (Dako) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The samples were stained using a horseradish peroxidase label, and the brown staining of keratin was visualized under light microscopy.
Clinical Observations
Case 1
The patient is a 72-year-old grandmother and former fashion model who developed painful lesions on her hands while working in her garden in San Antonio, Texas, in 1994. The lesions were punctate with ragged edges and healed slowly, leaving visible scarring. Fibers were observed in the lesions and under intact skin on her hands using a 60x handheld microscope. Topical steroids had no effect. The patient also noted the onset of fatigue, joint pain and muscle aches, and systemic steroid treatment exacerbated these symptoms without any improvement in the skin lesions. Medical evaluation was negative for autoimmune or infectious diseases, and neuropsychiatric evaluation was entirely normal. Biopsy of a lesion demonstrated hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis with no visible organisms or evidence of vasculitis. However “textile fibers” were noted in the dermal layer of the biopsy specimen.
In 2001, after numerous visits to dermatologists and other medical specialists and treatment with topical emollients and antiinflammatory medications, the patient had persistent skin lesions on her hands, fatigue and musculoskeletal pain. Despite the use of gloves to avoid scratching, her lesions persisted and she was unable to work in her garden or hold her grandchildren due to pain in her hands and joints. She recalled numerous tickbites but never saw an erythema migrans (EM) rash, and she was found to have positive testing for B. burgdorferi, Babesia microti and Bartonella henselae. She was treated with antimicrobial medications and her fatigue and musculoskeletal pain improved significantly. However her skin lesions persisted. She received anti-parasitic medication, and the lesions improved to the point that she could once again do gardening. The lesions persist but are “manageable” (Figure 1A).
Figure 1A: Lesions on hands of Case 1 following extensive antimicrobial treatment. Note erythematous base with ragged edges.
Case 2
The patient is a 49-year-old registered nurse who had numerous tickbites while hiking, camping and horseback riding in Missouri, Texas and Northern California over more than a decade. She never saw an EM rash. In 1997 while living in San Francisco she developed painful lesions on her face, trunk and extremities. The lesions were punctate with ragged edges. Some lesions healed slowly, leaving visible scarring, while others did not heal at all, and fibers that were resistant to extraction were observed within several lesions. Fibers were also observed under intact skin using a 60x handheld microscope. Topical steroids had no effect. Biopsy of a lesion on her leg revealed hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis without evidence of infection or vasculitis. However, “textile fibers” were noted in the dermal layer of the biopsy specimen. She also developed fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, and systemic steroid treatment exacerbated these symptoms without any improvement in the skin lesions. Medical evaluation was negative for autoimmune or infectious diseases, and neuropsychiatric evaluation was completely normal.
Because of persistent fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and her history of tick exposure, the patient was evaluated for Lyme disease in 2004 and had positive testing for B. burgdorferi and Ehrlichia chafeensis. Antibiotic therapy led to improvement in the fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, but the skin lesions persisted. She received antiparasitic medication and her skin lesions improved somewhat, but new lesions appeared and healing lesions caused painful scarring. She has received intermittent courses of antibiotics over the past six years, and her skin lesions continue to wax and wane (Figure 1B).
Figure 1B: Lesions on back of Case 2. Note punctate appearance of open lesions and scarred appearance after healing. Lesions occur in locations that could not be easily reached by the patient.
Case 3
The patient is a 47-year-old business manager who was in excellent health until he developed a “bullseye” rash, fever, chills, severe headache, musculoskeletal pain and malaise after hiking in the woods near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995. He had pulled ticks off his dog, which also became ill at the same time. He was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and treated with pain medications, but by 2000 he had become progressively disabled by muscle pain and fatigue. In 2002 he developed crawling sensations on his head, face, groin and other body areas where there was hair. The sensations were accompanied by painful skin lesions. He was diagnosed with folliculitis and put on a topical antibiotic, which made his skin symptoms worse. He began to notice painful fibers coming out of the skin on his face, head and other hirsute areas, and he could not sleep because the fibers were so painful. He extracted fibers from his facial lesions, but new ones appeared. He was diagnosed with trichotillomania and delusional parasitosis.
He went to several dermatologists and was treated with topical lindane and oral cephalexin without benefit. Treatment with oral ketoconazole and fluconazole provided marginal improvement in the crawling sensations and skin lesions. A scalp biopsy demonstrated increased numbers of catagen and telogen follicles with fragmented hair fibers and inner root sheath consistent with trichotillomania. There were no visible organisms or evidence of vasculitis. Medical evaluation was negative for autoimmune or infectious diseases, and neuropsychiatric evaluation revealed reactive depression. He was treated with antidepressants without benefit. Finally in 2005 a physician noted fibers under his skin using a 60x hand-held microscope. Testing for Lyme disease was indeterminate in 2006, and treatment with doxycycline was given for one month without benefit. The patient continues to suffer from crawling sensations, skin lesions, musculoskeletal pain, disabling fatigue and depression. He is reluctant to see any more physicians about his skin condition (Figure 1C).
Figure 1C: Head of Case 3 photographed at disease onset in 2002 (top) and during disease flare in 2011 (bottom). Note punctate lesions with ragged edges in bottom picture. Patient shaved his head in effort to decrease pain from scalp lesions.
Results
MD Microscopic observations
Case 1: Microscopic examination revealed a wide range of filaments in various stages of formation ranging from early stages that demonstrated either single or clusters of hyaline, tentacle-like projections with tapered ends (tentacle diameter approximately 5 μm) to macroscopic masses or mats of tangled fibers (approximately 1 mm diameter) (Figures 2A-2H). Floral-like formations of early-stage filaments were observed in some samples that were collected on different dates and years (Figure 2A). These structures had tapered ends with bases originating at a central point and were found in groups anchored to a dried dermal matrix. The reverse side of some of these specimens revealed a layer of pavement epithelial cells (Figure 2B). Epithelial matrices anchoring longer hyaline fibers were observed, suggesting that as the tentacle-like projections increase in length individual fibers may become tangled, or clumped (Figure 2C). Various structures composed of clumps, strings, and nest-like balls of hyaline filaments were observed and some of these were glued together by clotted or dried exudate (Figure 2D). This suggests that tangled filaments may eventually separate from the supporting epithelial matrix and form balls and other tangled structures.
Figure 2A: Fibers from Case 1. Note floral appearance of fibers (100x magnification).
Figure 2B: Pavement epithelium on underside of floral fibers shown in Case 2A (100x magnification).
Figure 2C: Hyaline fibers forming macroscopic masses in finger webbing from Case 1 (50x magnification).
Figure 2D: Clumps of hyaline filaments surrounding clotted or dried exudate from Case 1 (100x magnification).
Some samples revealed raised unidentified papules protruding from dried epithelial tissue that might be abnormal hair follicles. Long isolated colored filaments, filament fragments, balls, and clumps of fibers (red, blue, black and green) were also observed, but were not attached to or growing from epithelial tissue. Many of these colored filaments had bulb-like ends (50 μm diameter) that looked very much like those found in hair follicles (Figure 2E).
Figure 2E: Blue filament with bulb-like ends (50 μm diameter) similar to a hair follicle from Case 1 (100x magnification).
Many fibers displayed iridescence under bright-field microscopy and were fluorescent under UV lighting. Hyaline or white fibers fluoresced brightly, as did blue fibers (Figure 2F). Red and green fibers displayed striking iridescence (Figure 2G, Figure 2H) but fluoresced with less intensity than the blue and white fibers. This suggests that melanin pigments may be associated with red and green filaments. Early floral-shaped clusters were brightly fluorescent. Human hair was not fluorescent nor was normal skin. Color intensity and hue of the red and blue filaments was influenced by the color spectrum of the illuminating light. This property and the presence of iridescence suggests that a structural component is involved in the unusual colors seen in Morgellons fibers.
Figure 2F: Bluish fluorescence of fibers under UV lighting from Case 1 (100x magnification).
Figure 2G: Iridescence of a green fiber from Case 1 (100x magnification).
Figure 2H: Striking iridescence of a red fiber from Case 1 (100x magnification).
Case 2: Microscopic examination of scab material revealed scab detritus imbedded with long filaments of various colors (Figures 3A- 3D). Hyaline, red, blue, and light purple fibers were observed (10-40 μm diameter) (Figure 3A, Figure 3B). One sample revealed fibers tangled around a hair and these fibers may have been associated with the hair follicle (Figure 3C). Smaller, pale purple fibers (10 μm diameter) appeared to form a mesh around the follicle. Some samples revealed fibers that lay beneath or penetrated dermal tissue Figure 3D.
Figure 3A: Red and blue fibers in skin samples from Case 2 (100x magnification).
Figure 3B: Red and blue fibers embedded in skin from Case 2 (100x magnification).
Figure 3C: Fibers tangled around a hair (larger black shaft to right of figure) in Case 2 (100x magnification).
Figure 3D: Fibers penetrating dermal tissue from Case 2 (100x magnification).
Case 3: Microscopic examination was performed with particular attention to hair follicles, as the patient had reported unusual filament formation associated with the follicles. Microscopy revealed abnormalities of the follicular bulbs and the hair associated with these follicles that indicated abnormal functioning of follicular keratinocytes (Figures 4A-4D). Many follicles contained malformed bulbs with distorted shapes, and some follicles had two or more hairs branching from a single inner root sheath (Figure 4A). Filaments stemming from the bulb end were found in some follicles and these appeared as rootlike growths (Figure 4B). Transparent filaments were observed that stemmed from cells within the inner root sheath (Figure 4C). On some hairs red or blue colored filaments branched from the shaft (Figure 4D). Many hairs were flattened or tape-like on cross-section rather than concentric. These hairs were similar in appearance to Morgellons filaments.
Figure 4A: Hair follicle from Case 3 showing two hairs branching from a single inner root sheath (100x magnification).
Figure 4B: Hair follicle from Case 3 showing filaments stemming from bulb end (100x magnification).
Figure 4C: Hair follicle from Case 3 showing transparent filaments stemming from the inner root sheath (100x magnification).
Figure 4D: Hair follicle from Case 3 showing blue fiber (top) and red fiber (bottom) branching from the hair shaft (top, 100x magnification; bottom, 200x magnification).
BDD Microscopic observations
Biopsies from late proliferative stage BDD lesions were examined microscopically for comparison (Figures 5A-5D). Although the scale of filaments was much larger, the BDD filaments (roughly ten times larger) were similar in appearance compared to the specimens observed in Case 1 (Figure 5A, Figure 5B). Filaments were macroscopic, opaque and dirty white in color, ranging in size from less than 0.5 mm in diameter to about 1 mm in diameter. In cross section filaments appeared to originate beneath the stratum corneum (Figure 5C). Longer filaments were close to 1 mm in length. The BDD filaments demonstrated fluorescence under UV light (Figure 5D).
Figure 5A: Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) sample showing coarse fibers (8x magnification).
Figure 5B: BDD sample showing floral fibers (8x magnification). Note similarity to MD floral fibers from Case 1 (Figure 2A).
Figure 5C: Cross section of BDD sample showing coarse fibers that originate beneath the stratum corneum (8x magnification).
Figure 5D: BDD sample showing coarse fibers with fluorescence under UV lighting (8x magnification).
Chemical Experiments
Samples of normal hair, colored filaments and dermal material from Cases 1 and 2, and BDD fibers were subjected to immersion in caustic agents. Duplicate experiments with each caustic agent were performed on each sample. Results of the experiments are shown in (Table 1) Normal hair and patient filaments began to fray after incubation for 1 minute, and the patient filaments had completely disintegrated after incubation for 120 minutes in 12% sodium hypochlorite. Normal hair was still visible at this timepoint. In contrast, patient filaments began to fray at 1 minute in 10% sodium hydroxide but were still visible after 120 minutes, similar to normal hair. The hair and patient filaments were more resistant to 10% potassium hydroxide, with visible fraying beginning at 10 minutes and fibers still visible at 120 minutes. Although the larger BDD fibers appeared to be more resistant to the chemicals, fraying and shape change similar to the human samples was evident at 120 minutes with each caustic agent.
Table 1: Dissolution of Morgellons filaments and BDD fibers in caustic reagents.
Keratin immunostaining
The results of keratin immunostaining experiments are shown in Figure 6. The MD filaments from Case 1 stained strongly with the “pankeratin” antibody AE1/AE3 directed against cytokeratin 1/3. In contrast, the filaments stained weakly with the more restrictive antibody AE5/AE6 directed against cytokeratin 5/6. Staining with AE1/ AE3 was seen over the length of the fiber, while staining with AE5/ AE6 was only detected in the outermost scale. Melanin pigmentation was not seen in the fibers. No staining was detected with an irrelevant monoclonal antibody, and similar positive keratin staining with AE1/ AE3 was detected in MD fibers from Case 2 (data not shown).
Figure 6: Keratin immunostaining of fiber from Case 1. Immunostaining was performed as described in Methods section. Top: Staining with anti-CK AE1/ AE3. Bottom: Staining with anti-CK AE5/AE6 (200x magnification).
Discussion
Our three patients had features of MD that are commonly described in the medical literature, including insidious onset, dermatological signs and systemic symptoms, lack of response to immunosuppressive treatment and association with tickborne diseases [1-3]. Case 1 had skin lesions confined to the hands (Figure 1A), while Cases 2 and 3 had disseminated skin lesions over the head, trunk and extremities (Figures 1B and 1C). In addition, Case 3 had symptoms associated primarily with hair follicles, and a sensation of change in hair composition and texture is often reported by Morgellons patients [1,10]. These MD patterns have been recognized in prior studies [1,2] and we propose a classification of localized MD versus disseminated MD based on the distribution of the dermopathy. Although the reason for this dermopathy distribution is unknown, the location of skin lesions may be related to the cell of origin of the fibers seen in lesions or under the skin, as discussed below. Further study of the dermopathy distribution in MD is warranted.
The present study demonstrates Morgellons filaments that clearly originate from a layer of pavement epithelial cells visibly held together by desmosomes (Figure 2). The predominant cells found in pavement epithelial tissue are keratinocytes. We also noted MD fibers that clearly originate from the inner root sheaths of hair follicles (Figures 2-4), and keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in this tissue. Keratinocytes produce the biofiber keratin. A cross section of BDD filaments likewise demonstrates filament origin from cells beneath the stratum corneum (Figure 5), consistent with descriptions in the literature of growth from keratinocytes [14,19]. Thus MD filaments and BDD filaments appear to be similar in formation at the cellular level, both originating from keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum or stratum basale. MD differs from BDD, however, in that MD filaments appear to originate from follicular keratinocytes as well as epidermal keratinocytes. Both MD filaments and BDD filaments fluoresce in UV light (Figures 2-5). We have also shown for the first time that MD filaments contain keratin (Figure 6), and keratin staining was positive using a “pankeratin” monoclonal antibody but negative with a more restricted keratin ligand. This observation indicates that the fibers originate from specific tissues that require further characterization.
The observation that MD fibers are found beneath unbroken skin, may grow from an epidermal matrix and are associated with hair follicles suggests that they are not self-implanted textile fibers [1-3]. The filament formation described in MD is associated with a high likelihood of Bb infection [1,10]. BDD in cattle is associated with hyperkeratosis, keratin filament formation and spirochetal infection [12-20]. Hyperkeratosis and excessive keratin production associated with chronic inflammation has been demonstrated in humans with cholesteatoma [23,24],and alterations in keratinocyte expression of HLA markers and tissue enzymes have been reported in association with Bb infection [25,26]. These observations suggest that hyperkeratosis and keratin filament production associated with spirochetal infection is a plausible explanation for the clinical and microscopic findings in MD.
Hyaline and colored filaments from the three case studies demonstrate iridescence and an appearance consistent with keratin. Red, blue, purple and black are colors found in keratin and are associated with structural coloring and/or melanin production [27-30]. Clusters of early filaments described in Case 1 demonstrate that fibers are anchored and growing from a basal epithelial cell matrix. They are clearly biological and human in nature and are not implanted textile fibers. Various growth stages of fibers attached to epidermal matrices have been observed. These range from early filaments isolated or in clusters (that are only a few μm in diameter and 10 μm long) to long tangled mats (with fibers 10 μm or wider in diameter and several hundred μm long). Similar filament structures have previously been reported and photographed in MD [31]. Textile fibers have never been produced in this manner, and the suggestion that these unusual formations are manufactured textile fibers is not credible.
Longer fibers with tapered ends anchored to a cellular matrix were observed in Case 1, demonstrating filament evolution. Colored fibers were often found near larger hair follicles or appeared to have follicular bulb-like ends, suggesting an association with hair follicles and follicular keratinocytes. Our chemical studies suggest that MD filaments and BDD fibers react to caustic agents in a manner similar to normal hair, although MD filaments appeared to be more susceptible and BDD fibers less susceptible to the caustic agents Table 1. In preliminary studies using scanning electron microscopy, the presence of scales on a blue filament indicated that this specimen was a fine hair (D’Alba L and Shawkey MD, unpublished observation, December 2011). This finding suggests that some of the colored fibers of follicular origin may in fact be modified hairs. Differences between the keratinocytes found in the inner root sheath of hair follicles and keratinocytes found in the basal skin layer may account for the differences of location, structure, coloring and size of fibers seen in this study [32,33]. The effect of spirochetes on keratinocyte function may also play a role in altered keratin production associated with MD and BDD [22,25,26].
In conclusion, MD lesions were not caused by self-mutilation or delusions in the three cases presented here. The photographic evidence clearly demonstrates that the unusual fibers or filaments described in this study are not self-implanted textile fibers. All three patients had symptoms and laboratory findings consistent with systemic illness and indicative of tickborne disease. Neuropsychiatric testing was normal in two cases and influenced by the disease in the third case, and all three patients were examined by a medical practitioner who confirmed the presence of fibers underneath unbroken skin compatible with a diagnosis of MD.
We have demonstrated that filaments found in MD patients have chemical, physical and immunohistological features of keratin. The presence of individual filaments attached to epithelial tissue is consistent with keratin and suggests that the filaments are produced by keratinocytes. Morgellons filaments have been photographed growing from pavement epithelial cells, and this process resembles the evolution of filaments seen in BDD. Because BDD is a disease in which spirochetes have been identified as primary etiologic agents, and spirochetal sero-reactivity has been associated with MD, it is reasonable to assume that spirochetal infection plays an important role in MD filament production. Further immunohistological and electron microscopy studies are needed to solve the mystery of Morgellons filaments.
Conflict of Interest Statement
RBS serves without compensation on the medical advisory panel for QMedRx Inc. He has no financial ties to the company. MJM, EHR and RBS serve without compensation on the scientific advisory panel of the Charles E. Holman Foundation. DGK has no conflicts to declare.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Drs. Gordon Atkins, Robert Bransfield, Dorte Dopfer, Alan MacDonald, Peter Mayne, Deryck Read, Matthew Shawkey, Janet Sperling, Ginger Savely, Michael Sweeney and Randy Wymore for helpful discussion. We thank Dr. Robert B. Allan for technical support and Lorraine Johnson for manuscript review, and we are grateful to Harriet Bishop, Cindy Casey and Lee Laskowsky for providing first-hand information about Morgellons disease.
References
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Tjernlund U, Scheynius A, Asbrink E, Hovmark A (1986) Expression of HLA-DQ antigens on keratinocytes in Borrelia spirochete-induced skin lesions. Scand J Immunol 23: 383-388. Gebbia JA, Coleman JL, Benach JL (2001) Borrelia spirochetes upregulate release and activation of matrix metalloproteinase gelatinase B (MMP-9) and collagenase 1 (MMP-1) in human cells. Infect Immun 69: 456-462. Shawkey MD, Hill GE (2005) Caratenoids need structural colors to shine. Biol Lett 1: 121-124. Shawkey MD, Shreekumar RP, Hill GE, Siefferman LM, Roberts SR (2007) Bacteria as an agent for change in structural plumage color: correlational and experimental evidence. Am Nat 169: S112-S121. D'Alba L, Saranathan V, Clarke JA, Vinther JA, Prum RO, et al. (2011) Colour-producing ß-keratin nanofibres in blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) feathers. Biol Lett 7: 543-546. Chung WJ, Oh JW, Kwak K, Lee BY, Meyer J, et al. (2011) Biomimetic self-templating supramolecular structures. Nature 478: 364-368. Charles E. Holman Foundation (2012) Accessed February 16. Rugg EL, Leigh IM (2004) The keratins and their disorders. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 131C: 4-11. Moll R, Divo M, Langbein L (2008) The human keratins: biology and pathology. Histochem Cell Biol 129: 705-733.

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Platform of the Green Party of Mississippi Adopted June 2004, Revised May 2012 Preamble I. Democracy II. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity III. Environmental Sustainability Preamble We, the members of the Green Party of Mississippi, affirm as our first principle that government may only exist as an instrument whereby the People may govern themselves. Governments may exist only with the consent of the People which the People may withdraw or withhold at any time. The purpose of government is to secure and preserve to the People as individuals the inherent rights of all individual human beings. These rights include, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." We affirm our intention to work for the respect and acknowledgement of individual human rights by all people and governments consistent with the values and principles set forth in this Platform. We affirm that we do this work as one small part of the greater work of all Greens and their progressive allies towards the establishment and/or maintenance of free and democratic government in all our respective states throughout the world. I. Democracy 1. Corporate Intrusion into the Political Process a. The greatest threat to what is left of our democracy after many years of assaults on the sovereignty of the American people is the ability of special interests to purchase the loyalty of those who are nominally the people's elected representatives. This purchase is accomplished through a corrupt system of campaign finance and corporate lobbying based on soft money contributions, political action committees, and post-public service rewards. We are unalterably opposed to this system and, in the name of the freedom and democracy for which this nation is supposed to stand, will do everything in our power to bring about its destruction. b. We propose comprehensive campaign finance reform. including caps on spending and contributions at the national and state levels, and/or full public financing of elections to remove undue influence in political campaigns. We will work to ban or greatly limit political action committees and restrict soft money contributions. We also support significant lobbying regulation, including strict rules that disclose the extent of political lobbying via gifts and contributions, broad based reforms of government operations, congressional reorganization, and ethics laws at every level of government. 2. We support instant runoff voting. Instant runoff voting is already in use in several other countries and some municipalities in the U.S.. It allows voters to rank their choices first, second, third, etc. and operates like a series of runoff elections, but without the expense of holding an actual runoff election. If a voter's first choice doesn't win, the vote transfers to the second choice, and so on. Instant runoff voting allows voters to vote their conscience without "wasting" their vote on a candidate not likely to win, or being forced into choosing between the "lesser of two evils. 3. We favor the passage of a "clean money" law such as that of Arizona whereby any candidate who gathers 200 checks from individuals of $5 each becomes eligible for more than $25,000 in public money. The cost of the program would be paid by a $5 state income tax check-off, a dollar for dollar tax credit of up to $50 for direct contributions to the system, and a 10% surcharge on civil and criminal fines. 4. The intrusion of corporations into American political life must be stopped. Corporations are artificial persons not endowed with the same rights to free speech, freedom of religion, and other constitutional rights as natural persons. We therefore favor an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Mississippi that recognizes these rights to accrue only to "natural persons." 5. Municipal political parties should be allowed to organize without the existence of state or county parties. 6. County political parties should be allowed to organize without the existence of a state party. 7. We favor the passage of a fusion law similar to that of the state of New York allowing different political parties to nominate the same candidate for state, county, and municipal political offices. 8. Individuals should be allowed to be members of a state political party without being members of a county or municipal party. 9. We oppose at-large elections as diluting the voting strength of minorities. 10. No Mississippi elected official should be compensated by law at more than twice the individual median income for Mississippians. If our elected officials want salary increases they should be required to earn them by raising the standard of living of the people they presumably represent. 11. We support sunshine laws that open up the political system to access by all citizens. We call for vigorous enforcement of existing open meeting and open records laws in Mississippi. 12. We call for election days to be designated state holidays and for other measures calculated to inform, educate, and motivate voters. Among these measures should be state-organized voter registration outreach to all high school seniors. 13. The state law denying felons their voting rights even after they have served their sentences and completed their paroles is unjust to ex-convicts who are sincerely attempting to rehabilitate themselves and unconstitutional under the Eighth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. We believe that it should be repealed. Back to top II. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity A. Education 1. The ultimate purpose of education, although it should include job training, is to help children become scholars and citizens taught to question, reason, and discern, not employees and consumers taught to produce, consume, and obey. This is the guiding principle behind all Green Party of Mississippi education policies. 2. We believe in ridding public schools of all institutionalized commercial messages and marketing tactics targeted at students. 3. We support school funding equalization so that schools in poor districts receive as much per-student funding as schools in wealthy districts. 4. We support action by the state designed to improve performance by rural and under funded school districts. Such programs would include incentives to students to enter the teaching profession and incentives to teachers to work in disadvantaged districts. Counties in which all or some public schools fail to reach an adequate level of academic achievement should be encouraged to consolidate. 5. End tracking and train teachers to deal with multiple levels of achievement in the same classroom. 6. We support programs to train teachers through an apprenticeship system which includes hands-on classroom experience under the supervision of experienced teachers. 7. We support classroom programs whereby the more advanced students in a class tutor the less advanced. 8. Birth control information and sexually-transmitted diseases (STD)-prevention information should be disseminated through a program of sex education. We support realistic, practical instruction, not limited to "abstinence only" programs. Mississippi's infamous teen pregnancy rate, usually the highest in the nation, and the spread of STD's, especially AIDS and HIV are public health issues that must be addressed rationally and scientifically. 9. We oppose school vouchers, for-profit, and religious charter schools. 10. We support the repeal of the law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in all Mississippi public school classrooms. All copies of the Ten Commandments now in Mississippi classrooms should be returned to their donors. 11. We call for the public election of local school superintendents. 12. All employers should be encouraged to provide a certain amount of paid time off, upon request and on a regular basis, for parents and guardians to take an active role in their children's education. 13. All children should have access to a choice of fully funded academic and vocational post-secondary educational services. Stipends should provide living expenses and all books, fees, and tuition should be publicly funded. 14. We favor bilingual education. Children whose first language is not English need instructional programs that retain and improve command of their native language while building English proficiency. 15. We favor enhanced foreign language and cultural instruction in primary and secondary schools as a way to prepare students to live in a global society. 16. To raise the quality of higher education in Mississippi, we favor the hiring of larger numbers of full time, tenure track university faculty and thus, decreased dependence on adjunct, part-time faculty and teaching assistants; the reduction of the standard instructor teaching load in the Community College system to the national average, four courses per term; regional and national candidate searches to fill faculty slots in the Community College system; and the raising of university faculty salaries to the Southeastern average as a tool for faculty recruitment and retention. 17. We support the right of faculty and staff at all state educational institutions to form unions and enter into collective bargaining agreements with school boards and the Community College and Institutions of Higher Learning Boards. Back to top B. Health Care 1. We believe that the state of Mississippi should support publicly owned county and regional hospitals as a step towards universal healthcare. 2. We support state-financed malpractice insurance to enable doctors and nurses to practice in the state of Mississippi without unreasonable expenses and without fear of unfair malpractice claims. 3. We support state-financed healthcare provider education at in-or-out-of-state accredited programs to be reimbursed by practice in the underserved rural areas of Mississippi after graduation. 4. The state of Mississippi should not interfere with reproductive freedom. Abortion should be covered by state healthcare funding. 5. We support initiatives to address the epidemic of AIDS and HIV disease, including education, availability of condoms, and access to healthcare for HIV-infected individuals. C. Economic Justice/Social Safety Net 1. We support an immediate increase of the legal hourly wage to at least $2.00 over the federal minimum wage in all municipalities and counties in the state of Mississippi and in all state funded hourly wage positions. Corporations receiving state, county, and municipal contracts should be required to pay their employees a living wage. 2. We support state funding of living wage jobs in community and environmental service. 3. We oppose the use of the state of Mississippi's eminent domain powers to acquire land or other property for the use of corporations or other for-profit entities. The power of eminent domain must be used for the public good and not for the enrichment of private interests. 4. We favor financial and technical incentives for the creation of worker or consumer cooperatives or democratic public enterprises. 5. We favor financial and technical incentives for the creation of publicly owned community banks or consumer credit unions. 6. We favor the elimination of sales taxes on food, utilities for residential consumption, pharmaceuticals and other basic necessities. 7. We favor an increase to 8% of the oil severance tax. 8. We support an increase in the tobacco tax. 9. We propose that the Mississippi State Legislature fully match the federal child care block grant so that Mississippi can avail itself of all federal funds available for this purpose. 10. We believe that corporations and wealthy property owners should be taxed to provide restricted funds for vocational, academic, and extracurricular education. Back to top D. Management-Labor Relations 1. Mississippi right-to-work laws must be repealed. We support the right of employees to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. 2. We support the enactment of "labor peace laws" requiring employers to allow union organizers access to their premises and employees for organizing purposes without interference or reprisals against employees or organizers. 3. We support the passage of a law requiring employers to provide a written statement of cause before they may fire an employee. 4. We support the passage of a law prohibiting camera surveillance of employees and surveillance of employee Email traffic. 5. Temporary employment agencies and other contractors should be regulated, and fair treatment, pay, and security should be guaranteed for their employees. 6. A State Labor Commission should be created to oversee union elections for workers not covered by the NLRA (as amended) and not allowed NLRB elections. This definition would include state and municipal employees and farm labor. It could also include employees of some medium-sized businesses with 10 or more employees. 7. We contend that workers have a basic human right to a safe and healthful workplace. Thus, workplace health and safety regulations must be enforced rigorously; workplaces should be open to state safety inspection without advance notice; health and safety whistleblowers must be protected from discharge and harassment; accidents or death on the job should be subject to investigation and possible criminal prosecution. E. Criminal Justice 1. Abolish private prisons. Allowing private individuals to profit by subjecting their fellow citizens to involuntary servitude is suggestive of slavery. 2. We favor rehabilitation of prisoners. To that end, we support access to education and job training for prisoners. 3. We support halfway houses, fines, restitution, and community service as alternatives to the continued expansion of the prison-industrial complex. 4. We call for the repeal of Mississippi's "three strikes" law. This law has crowded our prisons with nonviolent offenders and devoured revenue that could be spent on education or the protection of the environment. 5. We oppose damage caps for lawsuits. We favor the repeal of all laws imposing them. Individuals and businesses that commit illegal acts must be brought to account. 6. We condemn the doctrine of sovereign immunity and favor legislation making it illegal for state officials and agencies to invoke it. If private individuals are to be answerable for their crimes in courts of law then public officials must be also. No government has the right to expect its citizens to obey its laws if it does not obey them itself. 7. We support vigorous enforcement of laws against cruelty to animals, especially the anti-dog fighting and anti-cockfighting laws. 8. We support independent civilian review of complaints of police misconduct. 9. We support the legalization of industrial hemp. 10. We oppose mandatory drug testing by employers except in situations involving the operation of vehicles and equipment where there is a danger to human life. We favor the passage of laws making such testing illegal in the state of Mississippi. 11. We support the abolition of the death penalty in the state of Mississippi. 12. We condemn the USA Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act as steps towards the creation of a police state. We call on all state, county, and municipal law enforcement organizations to refuse to cooperate with the Federal government in the enforcement of all unconstitutional provisions of this legislation. We also call for all county and municipal governing bodies to pass resolutions condemning the Patriot Act as unconstitutional and dangerous to democracy. 13. We call for the establishment of a state commission to investigate the feasibility of decriminalizing, taxing, and regulating private possession and use of marijuana. Back to top F. Civil and Equal Rights 1. We support the formation of a State Commission on Civil Rights to examine and recommend action on past and present injustices and inequities among Mississippians. 2. We support comparable worth legislation to equalize the pay of women and minorities with that of white males. 3. We support the formation of a State Commission on Reparations to study the question of reparations for slavery. 4. We support legislation guaranteeing gays and bisexuals the same access to civil marriage as heterosexuals. Laws denying them such access are unjust and unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 5. We call for immediate passage of legislation banning job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender. 6. We support legislation prohibiting discrimination in housing, hiring, or health care based on HIV status or AIDS diagnosis. 7. We call for a change in the state child support laws to make unearned income part of the basis of the calculation of court-ordered child support. 8. No one should be denied the right to adopt or hold custody of children on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. G. Free Speech 1. The right of the individual to freedom of speech is inherent in his or her existence as a human being and should in no way be abridged by the state of Mississippi. This principle includes state government employees and teachers and students in public schools. 2. The airwaves are a valuable public property. We thus support the cultivation of "community radio." We believe that the FCC should allow for a new service of small, locally-owned FM stations. 3. We also call for the creation and funding of genuine public access TV channels by all the cable providers in the state and for the creation of modest production facilities in at least one network TV station in each major media market in the state to facilitate citizen access. To fund such access, we call for a state surcharge to be paid by all corporate broadcast entities and cable or satellite TV providers in the state. This surcharge would be proportional to the power and reach of their signals, or, in the case of cable or satellite TV providers, the number of households enrolled. These monies would be made available to applicants for public access airtime to be used for the discussion of public issues and paid to the originating broadcast facility to cover the expense of production and broadcasting. Back to top H. Native Americans 1. We support the self-determination of the Choctaw and any other Native American tribe indigenous to Mississippi and resident in the state before 1900. 2. We support legislation allowing the state of Mississippi to grant official recognition to Mississippi Native American tribes. 3. We recognize the sovereignty of Native American tribal governments. I. Immigration 1. State laws allowing employers to import employees from foreign countries and pay them less than minimum wage by hiring them as temporary workers are a form of peonage. We favor and call for their immediate repeal. J. Housing 1. We support passage of equitable landlord-tenant laws in all counties and municipalities. K. Community Involvement 1. We support legislation and public policies that encourage establishment of consumer co-ops, micro loan funds, and local currencies. 2. We support direct democracy through town meetings. We favor the passage of municipal ordinances requiring public officials to hold such meetings. Such meetings should be empowered to pass and/or repeal municipal ordinances, as well as to monitor, instruct, and recall representatives elected to municipal, state, and federal office. L. Banking for People 1. We support a law capping interest rates on all loans including credit cards in the state of Mississippi at 1% over the Prime lending rate. 2. We support a law against rollovers whereby a late payment causes the interest rate on a loan to double. Rollovers are a form of extortion and all lenders who engage in this practice should be imprisoned for no less than five years and be required to make restitution to their victims. 3. We support the promotion of credit unions as an alternative to the legalized swindling practiced by easy credit lenders. Every Mississippian, regardless of employer or place of residence, should have access to a credit union. 4. We support a cap on fees for cashing checks at 0.1% of the value of the check, but no more than $5. Back to top III. Environmental Sustainability A. Energy Policy 1. We oppose the deregulation of utilities. Public utilities are too important to our citizens and businesses to allow prices to become subject to the vagaries of the marketplace. 2. We call for the development of a state energy policy including taxes and/or fines on energy waste and credits for alternative and sustainable energy use such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and biomass. In addition to corporate tax credits for viable alternative energy creation or conservation projects, we also call for such credits for individuals or contractors who design into or add onto personal homes active energy producing/saving devices. 3. We encourage state agencies to incorporate energy-saving and alternative power generation technologies as feasible in all state-owned buildings. B. Nuclear Energy Policy 1. We oppose nuclear energy and call for a decommissioning and phase-out of current nuclear plants. 2. The Green Party of Mississippi opposes the transportation of nuclear waste through Mississippi to Yucca Mountain or any other facility. 3. We support a law requiring the owners of Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant to allow independent, public-access radiation monitoring. 4. We oppose construction or expansion of any nuclear plants in Mississippi. C. Waste Disposal 1. We support local ordinances and state laws requiring businesses applying for zoning permits to disclose any toxic substances which may be used or produced at the site. 2. We favor comprehensive and systematic recycling programs for state and local governments. 3. We call for a "bottle bill" to place a deposit (5 cents) on all non-returnable glass, plastic, and metal packages of beer and soft drinks. The intended effect of the deposit is to reduce litter along our highways and other roads and to encourage recycling. 4. We call for the reduction of the public sector waste stream and especially for the development of viable recycling programs for all waste paper generated by state offices and by the state university and public school systems. 5. We call for measures by which organic trash collected by municipal and county waste management-lawn clippings, leaf and pine straw, dead fall and trimmed tree branches-would be composted and the resulting mulch and compost made available to farmers, home gardeners, and the state. D. Fossil Fuels 1. We support incentives to enable local communities to build bike paths and sidewalks in order to reduce auto-based transportation. 2. We also call for the creation of carpool lanes and other incentives to carpooling in metro areas throughout Mississippi. 3. We call for state tax credits-either savings on vehicle tag costs or income tax deductions or both-to be granted to those consumers who buy "hybrid" gas electric vehicles or other alternative-fuel vehicles that meet rigid fuel economy and exhaust emissions standards. Back to top E. Renewable Energy 1. We support the use of tax-exempt bonds to allow publicly owned utilities to finance conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy project. F. Transportation Policy 1. We support publicly financed mass transit in Mississippi's metropolitan areas. 2. We advocate the use of existing highway corridors when new highways are constructed. Rather than exercising eminent domain to acquire land for highway construction, Highway Department planners should first examine the feasibility of widening existing roadways. G. Clean Air 1. We favor state legislation on the California model requiring stricter clean air and fuel efficiency standards. 2. We favor state legislation underwriting low interest loans for the replacement of high-pollution older vehicles which have been licensed in Mississippi for at least the preceding five years with low-pollution vehicles, to be available to each owner of such an older vehicle. H. Land Use 1. We support the full funding and expansion of our state parks system. 2. We propose to overhaul Forestry Commission rules with the aim of protecting all our remaining old-growth forests, The revised rules will prohibit clear cutting on public land and promote sustainable forestry practices on both public and private lands. 3. We support a review of all state land-use policies. 4. We call for stricter public scrutiny and control over wetlands reduction, flood control and river-redirection projects. 5. We call for a moratorium on the cutting of mature deciduous trees on all public lands and call for the creation of incentives to protect and preserve these native species on private lands throughout Mississippi. 6. We will implement an immediate ban on the building of logging roads in state forests at taxpayer expense. These roads cost more to build than they bring in revenue and contribute to soil erosion and silting of streams. 7. End any state subsidies that encourage the export of raw logs and other minimally processed forest products (pulp, chips, carts, slabs, etc.) to out-of-state mills. Instead, provide incentives to local mills and in so doing create jobs for the people of Mississippi. Back to top I. Water 1. We support the promotion of water conservation by the state of Mississippi. 2. We oppose the privatization of municipal water services. 3. We acknowledge Native American rights regarding water and urge that courts and state water engineers do the same. 4. We support the creation of green belts around our urban areas to rein in sprawl and promote development of the inner city. J. Agriculture 1. We support organic farming methods and endorse the efforts of Mississippi's organic farmers to organize statewide to promote them. 2. We support cooperative farming and oppose agribusiness. We support farmers markets and on-site and u-pick-em operations. 3. We propose to abolish all state subsidies and tax breaks for agribusiness while maintaining them for small farmers and cooperative farmers. We support incentives to promote small-scale family farms, biological diversity in crop cultivation, and regional approaches to food supplies rather than the transportation of food over long distances to markets. 4. We wish to create incentives to increase diversity in forest plantings to promote wildlife habitat, the diversity of our ecosystems, and the natural beauty of our rural lands. 5. We propose to institute the teaching of organic and sustainable farming, including permaculture methods, in Mississippi's agricultural colleges. State universities should be given a mandate to perform research into organic farming methods and integrated pest management as a way to replace chemical biocides and fertilizers. 6. We propose incentives to promote the use of integrated pest management and the phasing out of biocides. 7. We propose a ban on genetic engineering and the release of genetically engineered organisms in the state of Mississippi. This ban includes "terminator gene" plants that produce sterile seeds. 8. Farmers have the right to save viable seed they have grown. This right contributes to sustainable farming. Contracts that prohibit farmers from saving seeds from their harvest for planting the following season should be made illegal. 9. We support pollution fees for the use of non-organic fertilizers, the resulting revenue to pay for environmental restoration. 10. We support rapid completion and implementation of state regulations defining "organic food," including both produce and livestock. 11. We support the use of work projects, goats, and other sustainable methods to control undergrowth rather than spraying herbicides, especially near communities. 12. We support a state program, including incentives and research at the state's agricultural schools, to promote the growing of industrial hemp, kenaf, and other non-tree sources of raw material for the manufacture of paper.

Morgellons Help & CDC Kriezer Cover-up

CDC/Kaiser 'Groundbreaking'
Morgellons Study A Fraud!By Cliff Mickelson
CMicke1065@aol.com

1-19-8

Much sound and fury is currently being generated by mainstream media concerning the recent CDC announcement that Kaiser Permanente has been selected by the CDC to conduct a "groundbreaking" study into the causes and nature of what the CDC and Kaiser both euphemistically (and erroneously) term Morgellons "syndrome." In the opening news conference statement to the press, The CDC's principle investigator Dr. Michele Pearson, with his Kaiser counterpart, Dr. Joe Selby at his side, sets the tone for a CDC position on this issue that can only be described as disingenuous at best. "There is insufficient information," intones Dr. Pearson, "to determine whether persons who identify themselves as having this condition, have common cause for their symptoms or may share common risk factors." This statement speaks volumes. One can only suppose that the good doctor is either stunningly under-informed or is a deliberate liar. In light of readily available information that has come into the possession of this writer, Dr. Pearson and his friends over at Kaiser Permanente appear to be fully informed as to the scope and nature of this affliction. Furthermore, the CDC is quite clearly aware that there already exists a large body of professional Morgellons research that has been done under the organized auspices of former Morgellons Research Foundation scientist Dr. Randy Wymore. Dr.Wymore, the current head of Morgellons research at the prestigious school of pharmacology at Oklahoma State University, has personally briefed CDC officials in the past. Nonetheless, the Atlanta based organization showed very little interest in the subject of Morgellons or in Dr. Wymore's revolutionary findings concerning the growing danger this affliction poses to society at large. The CDC is also aware that there exists a large compendium of additional work available for referencing. A great deal of research has been performed in the last few years by a select number of other professionally qualified medical-field researchers including such well known notables as Dr.William Harvey, Dr Hildegard Stannigar, and Dr. Rahim Karjoo In his opening CDC press conference statement Dr. Pearson uses the term "common risk factors" as a descriptive term... For those who are the uninitiated, that is CDC doublespeak for drug abuse or delusional mental illness. This denigrating and underhanded remark is a direct slap in the face of Morgellons patients, many of whom are children, senior citizens, teachers, nurses or other medical professionals. Such eye-opening statements belie the truth behind the thought processes taking place in the halls of the CDC. They give the astute observer an inkling of what lays in store for "Morgies" who are trusting enough to ignore the telegraphed meaning of such implied signals. For reasons they have apparently chosen not to make public, the CDC has therefore deliberately decided to ignore, negate and suppress the considerable body of nearly three years worth of ongoing, highly qualified field work by others outside the CDC nexus. They have chosen instead to form an unholy alliance with the largest HMO/insurer in the world, Kaiser Permanente. By marginalizing professional research that has already taken place during the CDC's long and curious absence from the Morgellons issue, they are now seen to be suddenly setting themselves up as the sole judge of any consequence in the public eye. This is a very dangerous and powerful position for an organization with a track record like the CDC to be allowed to place itself in. Morgellons sufferers had best beware. In what is probably the biggest conflict of interest since convicted felon Henry Blodget was hired as a Wall Street securities analyst, the Kaiser "fox" is now being given the keys to the CDC's hen house. In return, it appears that the CDC expects the obliging chickens to gratefully invite him in for dinner. It may well be that the CDC announcement concerning the much ballyhooed Morgellons research grant is little more than self-serving bureaucratic sound and fury...or it may be that a much darker and deadlier game is being played. A cursory study of the CDC's woeful lack of past interaction with the Morgellons community will open a Pandora's box of questions that beg answers . There is little doubt that the CDC knows how to play the political game. Based on past experience, many Morgies are of the opinion that the Kaiser "study" is little more than under-funded pork, a shuck, a jive, political chicanery and, at worst, a cynical lip service designed to throw a fog over the clever methodology of how bureaucracies with something to hide engage in issue assassination. So why, we might wonder, would the Mandarins of the CDC engage in such transparently duplicitous behavior? Why would they spend hard earned tax dollars for information that already exists and could be had with a simple conference call or two? Well, the answer is at once simple and yet Byzantine. It is germane to note that by their own malfeasant admission, over the last eight years the CDC has received thousands upon thousands of requests for help from Morgellons victims. All of these pleas, until now, fell upon deaf ears. Not one red cent was ever spent to determine what it was that was taking place not only across America but around the world as well. Meanwhile the CDC has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on an unending parade of fizzled "non-event" epidemics that have come and gone during that same time frame. A number of these high dollar non-event epidemics affected less than a dozen people across the country while others never materialized at all! As the white rabbit would say: Curiouser and curiouser! Now, at the behest of the Morgellons study, the CDC is dipping into the trough of public tax dollars once again. This time however, the bucket has come up woefully short. A pitiful $360 K is all that is earmarked for this study! Let's think about that for a moment. $360 K is less than the price of an average split-level home in Los Angeles County. What will 360 K buy in today's world of bloated research budgets? The salaries of the research staff alone should total more than that. What can we assume will be the cost of high technology tests and other high tech equipment needed to insure accurate Morgellons test results? Modern research tests can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Private researcher, Dr.Hildegaard Stannigar, reports that she has independently spent $39,000 of private money on such tests and that many more tests are still in need of performing. It doesn't take an accountant to figure out that three hundred and sixty thousand dollars is not going to buy much in the way of a reliable study...and..It doesn't take a Weatherman to figure out which way the wind is blowing in the halls of the CDC. Morgellons activists need to wake up and smell the coffee. The CDC has no intention of solving the Morgellons mystery. Those who think otherwise need to review the history of the CDC's hostile and dismissive interaction with the Morgellons community over the span of the last eight to ten years. Under modest scrutiny it becomes painfully apparent that this study is a farce and a fraud. What it is actually being sold to the gullible among us is smoke and mirrors. For a variety of hidden reasons the CDC is offering up the public expedient of having done their "part." Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the daggers are being sharpened in the dark hallways of Kaiser and the CDC. Morgellons victims who, in their current desperation, rush to embrace these bureaucratic assassins of Faith and Hope would do well to wear extra body armor. -Cliff Mickelson-   **********************************

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