Zachrisson, O, Colque-Navarro, P, Gottfries, C G et al. · European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2004 · DOI
Researchers tested whether a vaccine made from killed bacteria could help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia by stimulating their immune system. Half of 28 patients received the vaccine and half received placebo over 6 months. Patients who received the vaccine developed antibodies (immune proteins) against bacterial toxins, and those with stronger antibody responses showed more clinical improvement.
This study offers early evidence that ME/CFS patients may benefit from immune-directed therapies that generate specific antibody responses, and demonstrates a potential biomarker (antibody levels) that could be used to predict treatment response. Understanding immune mechanisms in ME/CFS remains a priority for developing targeted interventions.
This study does not prove that bacterial toxins cause ME/CFS or that vaccination is a safe or effective standard treatment. The correlation between antibody response and clinical improvement does not establish causation—both could result from a third factor. The small sample size and exploratory nature mean results require replication in larger, well-controlled trials before clinical recommendations can be made.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Zachrisson, O, Colque-Navarro, P, Gottfries, C G, Regland, B, & Möllby, R (2004). Immune modulation with a staphylococcal preparation in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: relation between antibody levels and clinical improvement.. European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-1062-8
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-zachrisson-2004-immune-modulation,
author = {Zachrisson, O and Colque-Navarro, P and Gottfries, C G and Regland, B and Möllby, R},
title = {Immune modulation with a staphylococcal preparation in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: relation between antibody levels and clinical improvement.},
journal = {European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1007/s10096-003-1062-8},
note = {PubMed: 14735403},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/zachrisson-2004-immune-modulation},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/zachrisson-2004-immune-modulation
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