Infectious diseases: December 2011 Archives

For those who are following the XMRV-CFS-Mikovits story, science blogger John Timmer at ars technica provides a decent synopsis of the crazy soap opera/Greek tragedy.

Specifically Timmer outlines a complicated narrative in reasonably comprehensible (but not outstanding*) prose. The salient points:

• the rise and fall of data linking XMRV with the dubious CFS;
• researcher Judy Mikovits's refusal to abandon the idea that XMRV is associated with CFS, despite others' data indicating XMRV contamination;
• the symbiotic nexus between Mikovits and individuals with CFS, some of whom reportedly tried to undermine any investigation debunking the link between XMRV with CFS;
• Mikovits's subsequent unethical, and possibly criminal, behavior; and
• the overall integrity of the collective, collaborative scientific process (including nods to the DHHS and the "publishing system").

* One feels that Timmer's lengthy post could be a terrific short article with some professional editorial help.
CFS = chronic fatigue syndrome; DHHS = Department of Health and Human Services; XMRV = xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus.