At a conference in Sydney in February 1995, Dr Neil McGregor of the Newcastle research team presented information about the nature of CFSUM1 (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Urinary Marker 1), the novel chemical the Newcastle researchers have found in the urine of people with CFS/ME (as well as in some healthy people). The urine concentration of CFSUM1 appears to correlate strongly with a number of CFS/ME symptoms (see Emerge, December 1994, p24, for more details).

Dr McGregor provided a chemical name for the proposed structure of CFSUM1: amino-hydroxy-N-methyl-pyrrolidine. The base structure of this compound is similar to the base structure of many pesticides. Initially the researchers thought that they had identified a pesticide in the urine of patients; however, they now believe that CFSUM1 is a toxic molecule produced by aberrant gut bacteria.

(Ed: This is all the information currently available on the nature of CFSUM1. The researchers are continuing to study this molecule and are working to identify its source).

Sources: The CFIDS Chronicle, Spring 1995, Journal of The CFIDS Association of America, Inc; and notes on the conference Complementary Medicine in CFS/ME, made available on the Internet by Dr Mark Donohoe. The conference was held in Darling Harbour, Sydney, on February 18th and 19th, 1995.

Reprinted from Emerge, December 1995.