Nanobacteria Are Mineralo Fetuin Complexes

Abstract

“Nanobacteria” are nanometer-scale spherical and ovoid particles which have spurred one of the biggest controversies in modern microbiology. Their biological nature has been severely challenged by both geologists and microbiologists, with opinions ranging from considering them crystal structures to new life forms. Although the nature of these autonomously replicating particles is still under debate, their role in several calcification-related diseases has been reported. In order to gain better insights on this calciferous agent, we performed a large-scale project, including the analysis of “nanobacteria” susceptibility to physical and chemical compounds as well as the comprehensive nucleotide, biochemical, proteomic, and antigenic analysis of these particles. Our results definitively ruled out the existence of “nanobacteria” as living organisms and pointed out the paradoxical role of fetuin (an anti-mineralization protein) in the formation of these self-propagating mineral complexes which we propose to call “nanons.” The presence of fetuin within renal calculi was also evidenced, suggesting its role as a hydroxyapatite nucleating factor.

Hemoglobin aggregates studied under static and dynamic conditions involving the formation of nanobacteria-like structures

“…The existence of nanobacteria has been openly questioned by a number of scientists (17)(18)(19). In effect, some scientists argue that nanobacteria are not living entities but are composed of salts and other physiologically based organic compounds.…”

Clinical implications of calcifying nanoparticles in dental diseases: a critical review

“…Other investigators -Martel and Young, 9 Wu et al, 6 and Raoult et al 10 -did not obtain the same result when they used the same method. Anti-CNP monoclonal antibodies have high sensitivity and low specificity, which explains the failure to achieve cross-reactions with serum protein (albumin and fetuin-A) in other studies.…”

“…Calcifying NP antigens and antibodies were detected significantly more often in CNP-containing diseases compared to controls. 2 Although many studies [5][6][7][8]10 proposed that CNPs might have the ability to form mineral-protein complexes in normal serum in physiological conditions, in reality, Kajander et al reported that this could not be totally true. 37 However, mineral-protein complexes have been shown in a gammairradiated serum study model by Martel and Young.…”

“…39,35,36 Many findings and data oppose the hypothesis that CNPs are mineral-protein complexes. Although the formation of complexes of minerals and protein serum and other biological liquid under homeostasis was proposed by Martel and Young, 9 Wu et al, 6 Young et al, 7,8 and Raoult et al, 10 Kutikhin et al 2 believed that the presence of CNPs in an organism is clearly a pathological process. In addition to their pathogenicity, these proteins may have a specific immunological reaction in forming specific antibodies.…”

“…One theory, describes CNPs as the smallest-known replicating entities of organic life on earth, while other theories held that CNPs are mineral-protein complexes unrelated to bacteria. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Sommer et al were of the opinion that nanobacteria have unique and unusual characteristics, which preclude placing them into any established evolutionary branch of life. 14 Kajander et al presented a table that compared CNPs, virus, prions, and bacteria using over 20 characteristics or properties, as shown in Table 1.…”