EpsteinBarr

New research may provide clues to an enduring mystery about multiple sclerosis and the common germ thought to be its leading cause, the Epstein-Barr virus. Scientists in Sweden have found that some patients with multiple sclerosis produce antibodies against the virus that seem to also mistakenly target a protein found in the brain and spinal cord. The findings provide more evidence that the Epstein-Barr virus can cause multiple sclerosis, the study authors say, and could help explain why some patients experience more…

A cryoelectron microscopic reconstruction model of the Epstein-Barr virus gp350-ferritin nanoparticle. Credit: Geng Meng, Purdue UniversityThe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched an early-stage clinical trial to evaluate an investigational preventative vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) and is associated with certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. The Phase 1 study is…