Pleomorphic bacteria-like structures in human blood represent non-living membrane vesicles and protein particles.

ABSTRACT: Although human blood is believed to be a sterile environment, recent studies suggest that pleomorphic bacteria exist in the blood of healthy humans. These studies have led to the development of "live-blood analysis," a technique used by alternative medicine practitioners to diagnose various human conditions, including allergies, cancer, cardiovascular disease and septicemia. We show here that bacteria-like vesicles and refringent particles form in healthy human blood observed under dark-field microscopy. These structures gradually increase in number during incubation and show morphologies reminiscent of cells undergoing division. Based on lipid analysis and Western blotting, we show that the bacteria-like entities consist of membrane vesicles containing serum and exosome proteins, includin

SUBMITTER: Martel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5587737 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature