The case for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) The studies found that: Antibodies (immune proteins that indicate a person has been exposed) to EBV were significantly higher in people who eventually developed MS than in control samples of people who did not get the disease.
Now, a study led by Stanford Medicine researchers has proved that the Epstein-Barr virus, a common type of herpes virus, triggers multiple sclerosis by priming the immune system to attack the body's own nervous system.
For EBV we have a six-stage model of infection (naive Blast, GC, memory, Immediate early lytic, Early lytic and Late lytic) where each stage may or may not be regulated by the immune response.
A Harvard study adds to the evidence that the Epstein-Barr virus is a prime culprit in multiple sclerosis (MS). An EBV infection proceeded first symptoms of MS by as much as 10 years in the study of 955 active-duty military personnel. Having an EBV infection increased the risk of MS diagnosis by 32 times.
MS is not an infectious disease, but latent viruses may play a role in triggering MS symptoms and disease activity. The viruses involved with MS — such as EBV and HHV-6 — are infectious but MS itself is not. MS is not directly caused by germs that enter the body and is not passed from one person to another.
Segal says. “Some people with COVID-19 infections experience neurological symptoms that may be secondary to this response. MS is caused by an abnormal immune response targeting the central nervous system. This raised concerns that COVID-19 could exacerbate MS.”
The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It's considered an immune mediated disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) may drive inflammatory events in both the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS), leading to the development of the multiple sclerosis lesion in the CNS.
Establishing a causal relationship between the virus and the disease has been difficult because EBV infects approximately 95% of adults, MS is a relatively rare disease, and the onset of MS symptoms begins about 10 years after EBV infection.
EBV infection can be confirmed with a blood test that detects antibodies. About nine out of ten of adults have antibodies that show that they have a current or past EBV infection.
Symptoms range in severity for each person diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms include: Sore throat and throat inflammation (swelling). Fatigue or feeling extremely tired.
There are a variety of blood tests that are used to detect an EBV infection. EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA). This tests for antibodies to EBNA. These antibodies will be seen if you've been infected by EBV for more than two to four months.
Although no medicine can cure an EBV infection, you can take these steps at home to ease your symptoms: Get plenty of rest. Drink a lot of water and other liquids to stay hydrated. Suck on lozenges or ice pops, or gargle with warm salt water, to make your sore throat feel better.
Clostridium perfringens and epsilon toxin may explain many of these mysteries.” An environmental trigger is required for MS to occur in a genetically susceptible individual, and the abundance of epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens in people with MS suggests it could be the culprit.
Patients often present with fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, EBV hepatitis, or pancytopenia. Over time, these patients develop progressive immunodeficiency and if not treated, succumb to opportunistic infections, hemophagocytosis, multiorgan failure, or EBV-positive lymphomas.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to the development of a variety of human malignancies, including Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, some T cell lymphomas, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, and more recently, certain cancers of the stomach and smooth muscle.
EBV infection can affect a person's brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis
Most people will get infected with EBV in their lifetime and will not have any symptoms. Mono caused by EBV is most common among teens and adults.
Pulmonary complications.
MS can weaken the muscles that control the lungs. Such respiratory issues are the major cause of sickness and death in people in the final stages of MS.
Sarcoidosis is another inflammatory autoimmune disease that shares some symptoms with MS, including fatigue and decreased vision. But sarcoidosis most commonly affects the lungs, lymph nodes, and skin, causing a cough or wheezing, swollen lymph nodes, and lumps, sores, or areas of discoloration on the skin.
MS is not directly inherited from parent to child. There's no single gene that causes it. Over 200 genes might affect your chances of getting MS.
Research has demonstrated that MS occurs in most ethnic groups, including African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics/Latinx in the U.S., but is most common among white people of northern European descent.