Endosymbiotic Archaeal Generated Rna Viroids Can Regulate Cell Function and Contribute to Disease State – Role in Viral Speciation

Abstract

Aim Endomyocardial fibrosis along with the root wilt disease of coconut is endemic to Kerala with its radioactive actinide beach sands. Actinides like rutile as well as organisms like phytoplasmas and viroids have been implicated in the etiology of these diseases. RNA viroids has been related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, malignancy, metabolic syndrome x, autoimmune disease and neuronal degeneration. The possibility of archaeal RNA viroids contributing to the pathogenesis of these disease states was studied. Methods Plasma from fasting heparinised blood was used and the experimental protocol was as follows (I) Plasma+phosphate buffered saline, (II) same as I+cholesterol substrate, (III) same as II+rutile 0.1 mg/ml, (IV) same as II+ciprofloxacine and doxycycline each in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The following estimations were carried out:- Cytochrome F420, free RNA and free DNA. Results Plasma of control subjects showed increased levels of the above mentioned parameters with after incubation for 1 hour and addition of cholesterol substrate resulted in still further significant increase in these parameters. The plasma of patients showed similar results but the extent of increase was more. The addition of antibiotics to the control plasma caused a decrease in all the parameters while addition of rutile increased their levels. The addition of antibiotics and rutile to the patient’s plasma produced the same changes but the extent of change was more in patient’s sera as compared to controls. Conclusion An actinide dependent shadow biosphere of archaea and viroids in the above mentioned disease states is described. Actinidic archaea generated RNA viroids can regulate cell function and modulate the neuro-immunoendocrine system by the mechanism of RNA interference. The archaea generated RNA viroids can also contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, malignancy, metabolic syndrome x, autoimmune disease and neuronal degeneration. The RNA viroids could play a role in viral speciation by recombining with endogenous commensal viruses.

Key words: Actinide; Archaea; Viroid; Cell function