Mycobacterium vaccae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mycobacterium vaccae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinobacteria
Order:
Actinomycetales
Suborder: Corynebacterineae
Family: Mycobacteriaceae
Genus:
Mycobacterium
Species: M. vaccae
Binomial name
Mycobacterium vaccae
Mycobacterium vaccae is a nonpathogenic[1] 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.[2] Research areas being pursued with
regard to killed Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine include immunotherapy for allergic asthma,
cancer, depression, leprosy,[3] psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and tuberculosis.[3]
It has recently been hypothesized that exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae may result in an
antidepressant effect, because it stimulates the generation of serotonin and norepinephrine in
the brain.[4][5][6] More specifically, it induces the neurogenesis of neurons that produce those
two compounds.
Other neuronal research, as of 24 May 2010, has shown that when Mycobacterium vaccae
was injected into mice, it stimulated some growth of neurons. It also increased levels of
serotonin and 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.
M. vaccae is in the same genus as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium which causes
tuberculosis. Numerous trials have indicated that exposure to oral and injectable products
derived from M. vaccae bacteria can have positive effects in treating tuberculosis. Although a
2002 review of selected clinical trials failed to find any consistent benefit of certain dosage
regimens of injectable M. vaccae products in people with tuberculosis,[7] a more recent metaanalysis of 54 clinical studies of M. vaccae products for tuberculosis showed treatment
resulted in improved sputum conversion and radiological (X-ray) assessment.[8]
Varying results of clinical trials with M.vaccae products may be related to different forms of
the bacterium ("smooth" and "rough"). 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.[9] In one study, Mycobacterium vaccae was cultured on "tryptone soy agar
medium, collected, and heat killed at 121C for 15 min."[9]
AnHui Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (Longcom) produces a Mycobacterium vaccae
vaccine with the trade name "Vaccae" for the treatment of tuberculosis.[10] Immunitor Inc. has
reported two successful clinical trials with its oral formulations of M. vaccae in treating all
forms of tuberculosis, including drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).[11][12]
M. vaccae may serve as one biological mechanism by which historical and Ayurvedic folk
remedies such as Aqua omnium florum offer their benefit.

References

The first described strain of M. vaccae was isolated from cow dung.
1.
Lowry, C.A.; Hollis, J.H.; De Vries, A.; Pan, B.; Brunet, L.R.; Hunt, J.R.F.; Paton, J.F.R.;
Van Kampen, E.; et al. (2007). "Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical
serotonergic system: Potential role in regulation of emotional behavior". Neuroscience. 146
(2): 75672. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.067. PMC 1868963 . PMID 17367941.
"Extremely drug resistant tuberculosis is there hope for a cure?" (PDF). TB Alert
the UK's National Tuberculosis Charity. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
US patent 4724144, Rook, Graham A. W. & Stanford, John L., "Immuno-therapeutic
composition of killed cells from mycobacterium vaccae", issued February 9, 1988
"Getting Dirty May Lift Your Mood". Bristol University: Medical News Today. 200704-05.
"Dirt exposure 'boosts happiness'". BBC News. 2007-04-01.
"Getting Dirty May Lift Your Mood". University of Bristol News. Retrieved 2014-0810.
De Bruyn, Guy; Garner, Paul (2003). De Bruyn, Guy, ed. "Cochrane Database of
Systematic Reviews". doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001166. |chapter= ignored (help)
: Yang X-Y, Chen Q-F, Li Y-P, Wu S-M (2011) Mycobacterium vaccae as Adjuvant
Therapy to Anti-Tuberculosis Chemotherapy in Never-Treated Tuberculosis Patients: A MetaAnalysis. PLoS ONE 6(9): e23826. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023826
Rodrguez-Gell, Elisabeth; Agust, Gemma; Corominas, Merc; Cardona, PereJoan; Casals, Isidre; Parella, Teodor; Sempere, Marco-Antonio; Luquin, Marina; Julin,
Esther (2006). "The production of a new extracellular putative long-chain saturated polyester
by smooth variants of Mycobacterium vaccae interferes with Th1-cytokine production".
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 90 (1): 93108. doi:10.1007/s10482-006-9062-1.
PMID 16652204.
AnHui Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (Longcom)
Butov, DA; Efremenko YV; Prihoda ND; Zaitzeva SI; Yurchenko LV; Sokolenko NI;
Butova TS; Stepanenko AL; Kutsyna GA; Jirathitikal V; Bourinbaiar AS. (Oct 2013).
"Randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II trial of heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae
(Immodulon batch) formulated as an oral pill (V7)". Immunotherapy. 5 (10): 104754.
doi:10.2217/imt.13.110. PMID 24088075.
1.
Efremenko, YV; Butov DA; Prihoda ND; Zaitzeva SI; Yurchenko LV;
Sokolenko NI; Butova TS; Stepanenko AL; Kutsyna GA; Jirathitikal V; Bourinbaiar
AS (June 2013). "Randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II trial of heat-killed
Mycobacterium vaccae (Longcom batch) formulated as an oral pill (V7).". Hum
Vaccin Immunother. 9 (9): 18526. doi:10.4161/hv.25280. PMID 23782489.

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)

[1] Compositions Derived From Mycobacterium Vaccae and Methods for Their Use
(Patentscope)

Can bacteria make you smarter?

Google translated article from Spanish

Type strain of Mycobacterium vaccae at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity

Metadatabase