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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS) Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), Fibromyalgia Leading Research. Delivering Hope.Open Medicine Foundation® Canada
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AusME Biobank Biomarker project

Study Aim

The study will utilise the Australian ME/CFS biobank for metabolomics analyses and other assays to identify potential biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, contributing to a comprehensive dataset for large-scale analysis.

Investigators

  • Sarah Annesley, PhD
  • Paul Fisher, PhD
  • Brett Lidbury, PhD
  • Alice Richardson, PhD
  • Benjamin Heng, PhD
  • Elisha Josev, PhD
  • Paul Gooley, PhD
  • Christopher Armstrong, PhD

Updates and Potential

  • IRB/Ethics approval completed.
  • Samples completing collection in August.
  • Over 200 samples expected for metabolomics assays which will require 2 months with early scheduling.
  • Data analysis will require 2 months and publication of data may be possible in 2024 but more likely 2025.
STUDY HYPOTHESIS AND DESCRIPTION

To enhance the research capabilities within the Australian scientific community concerning Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID, we played a role in establishing an Australian biobank for ME/CFS managed by Emerge Australia. The establishment of this biobank and registry included conducting a biomarker study utilising patient samples. Although the progress of the biobank was hindered by the pandemic, we have now successfully collected hundreds of samples from willing participants over the past few years.

As part of this initiative, we are currently performing metabolomics analyses on all samples stored in the biobank. This metabolomics data will be integrated with findings from other assays conducted by our collaborators. We plan to disseminate research papers detailing individual projects and subsequently compile a comprehensive dataset for large-scale analysis aimed at identifying potential biomarkers.

OBJECTIVES

close-up of a gloved hand holding a test tube containing a blood sample. The test tube is labeled with barcode for identification and tracking purposes.

  1. Pattern metabolites corresponding to patient symptoms and co-morbid conditions.
  2. Validate markers from previous studies.
  3. Search for new potential markers in this large Australian dataset.
  4. Cluster patients based on similar biology-symptom.
  5. Combine data with collaborator assays on same patients.

Consent management

Consent Preferences

Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) Form 

Microvesicles and viral sequencing
Microvesicles are a type of extracellular vesicle that is released from the cell membrane. Vesicles are small, fluid-filled sacs or vacuoles within the body. Sequencing is a technique used to determine the exact sequence of bases (A, C, G, and T) in a DNA (or viral) molecule.
NMR Metabolomics
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is an instrument/tool used to perform metabolic studies, metabolic profiling, and metabolomics in biofluids and tissues for more than 40 years using magnetic fields. There is a very close connection between metabolic measurements and NMR. This connection has flourished because of NMR’s many unique strengths for characterizing complex mixtures’ chemical composition.
Proteomics
The large-scale study of proteins, which are large, complex molecules that are required for structure, function, and regulation of the human body's tissues and organs.
Autoantibodies
Antibodies that react with self-molecules and that occur in healthy individuals and are referred to as natural antibodies or autoantibodies.
Extracellular DNA for viral reactivation and Mitochondrial DNA
exDNA (extracellular DNA), exDNA is often secreted actively and is used to perform several tasks, thereby offering an attractive target or tool for biotechnological, medical, environmental, and general microbiological applications. Viruses are intracellular parasites that rely to a significant extent on the host cell for replication. Viral reactivation occurs when an active replication of the viral genome results in a lytic (degradation of the cell) infection characterized by the release of new progeny (descendant) virus particles.
Immune cell profiling
The immune system has many important regulatory roles in disease development and progression. Given the emergence of effective immune therapies, reliable predictors of response are needed. Immune cell profiling determines response by evaluating immune cell populations from treated and untreated samples. For our purposes, we will evaluate the white blood cell response to the viral infection using a process called “Cytof.”
Leukocyte Genomics
A leukocyte is a colorless cell circulating in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease. A genome is all genetic material of an organism. Genomics is a biology field focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. Therefore, leukocyte genomics is the study of all genetic material of leukocytes.
Metabolomics
Metabolomics is a way to study metabolism – that is, through measuring amounts of the metabolites (small molecules) produced by our bodies as we convert food into energy and other molecules that our cells need to survive. Metabolomics technology is ‘large-scale,’ meaning that several thousand metabolites can be measured from a single sample of e.g., blood or urine.
Micro RNA
Cells use Micro RNA to control whether a particular gene is making too much, too little or the normal amount of its protein at a particular time.