Abstract: A process for treating a patient with leukemia or an aplastic anemia having cells with inclusions that stain with anti-E. canis antibodies or antibodies to other Ehrlichia or Anaplasma is disclosed. That process comprises administering to the patient (i) an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin, (ii) an antibacterial amount of a quinolone, or a mixture of (i) and (ii).

Abstract: A method of assaying for the presence of Anaplasma-infected blood cells or blood cell precursors from a patient is disclosed. The method comprises a) amplifying a nucleic acid-containing preparation of blood cells or blood precursor cells with a primer that can be used to amplify a nucleic acid sequence that indicates that the patient is suffering from Anaplasma-infected blood cells or blood cell precursors.

Abstract: A method of assaying for the presence of Anaplasma-infected blood cells or blood cell precursors from a patient is disclosed. The method comprises a) amplifying a nucleic acid-containing preparation of blood cells or blood precursor cells with a primer that contains a sequence of at least 12 consecutive bases of a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NOs:1-16 or an antisense sequence thereof; and detecting the presence of an amplified nucleic acid sequence. The presence of an amplified sequence indicates that the patient is suffering from Anaplasma-infected blood cells or blood cell precursors.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing for the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a patient is disclosed. In accordance with this method, megakaryocytes present in bone marrow of a person suspected of having SLE are assayed for the presence of internal bacterial structures that specifically stain with an intercalating dye. The presence of those specifically stainable structures within the patient's megakaryocytes indicates that the patient has SLE. Treatment of an SLE patient with an antibiotic is contemplated. Treatment of a patient that has SLE comprises administering to that patient (i) an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin along with an antibacterial amount of a macrolide, (ii) an antibacterial amount of a tetracycline, or (iii) an antibacterial amount of a quinolone, or a mixture of two or more of i, ii and iii. The treatment is continued until the patient's megakaryocytes no longer contain specifically stainable structures, and until no further evidence of infection is present.

Abstract: A process for treating a patient with leukemia or an aplastic anemia having cells with inclusions that stain with anti-E. canis antibodies or antibodies to other Ehrlichia or Anaplasma is disclosed. That process comprises administering to the patient (i) an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin, (ii) an antibacterial amount of a quinolone, or a mixture of (i) and (ii).

Abstract: A method for diagnosing for the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a patient is disclosed. In accordance with this method, megakaryocytes present in bone marrow of a person suspected of having SLE are assayed for the presence of internal bacterial structures that specifically stain with an intercalating dye. The presence of those specifically stainable structures within the patient's megakaryocytes indicates that the patient has SLE. Treatment of an SLE patient with an antibiotic is contemplated. Treatment of a patient that has SLE comprises administering to that patient (i) an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin along with an antibacterial amount of a macrolide, (ii) an antibacterial amount of a tetracycline, or (iii) an antibacterial amount of a quinolone, or a mixture of two or more of i, ii and iii. The treatment is continued until the patient's megakaryocytes no longer contain specifically stainable structures, and until no further evidence of infection is present.

Abstract: Diagnostic methods for the detection of SLE in a human body sample are disclosed. Nucleic acid hybridization and antibody-based methods derived from identification of Mycoplasma haemosapiens or its 16S sequence are described.

Abstract: Intra-erythrocytic exogenous bacterial structures or parasites seen by giemsa and phase contrast microscopy in several patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and not in controls were identified as bacteria. Treatment of an SLE patient is contemplated with an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin in conjunction with an antibacterial amount of either a macrolide such as clarithromycin or a third generation cephalosporin such as cefpodoxime that is itself more preferably used in conjunction with an adjuvant amount of probenecid.

Abstract: Intra-erythrocytic exogenous bacterial structures or parasites seen by giemsa and phase contrast microscopy in several patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and not in controls were identified as bacteria. Treatment of an SLE patient is contemplated with an antibacterial amount of a rifamycin in conjunction with an antibacterial amount of either a macrolide such as clarithromycin or a third generation cephalosporin such as cefpodoxime that is itself more preferably used in conjunction with an adjuvant amount of probenecid.

Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus is diagnosed by contacting the blood serum of a patient with anaplasma antigen derived from a vertebrate infected by an organism of the genus Anaplasmataceae and thereafter contacting the antigen with an indicator for human immunoglobulin components.