Treatment and prevention for Epstein-Barr virus

Recent evidence strongly suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a trigger in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). An international team of researchers is currently coming together to unravel the role of EBV in the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis.

The team has ambitious goals:

“Our goal was to find out why only a minority of EBV-infected people develop multiple sclerosis and to identify the underlying mechanisms of this process,” explains lead researcher (PI) Professor Kjell-Morten Myhr from the University of Bergen.

“Our study will also investigate whether antiviral treatments for EBV infection can improve the course of the disease or even halt its progression,” Myhr said.

“The next step will be to develop prevention strategies such as vaccination,” said co-lead researcher Professor Øivind Torkildsen of Haukeland University Hospital.

From theory to action

Researchers representing leading universities and hospitals in Europe and the United States will conduct clinical trials of antiviral therapies for EBV infection in multiple sclerosis, analyze blood and saliva samples, and conduct registry-based studies.

They will bring extensive experience and prior research in their fields and draw on high-quality health registries and existing research cohorts of people with MS. The group consists of experts in multiple fields, including EBV and human genetics, virology, immunology, neurology, multiple sclerosis, clinical trial design, patient participation, epidemiology, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence and data manage.A governance approach that takes into account patients, their needs and experiences will ensure multi-stakeholder involvement and shared accountability

Multiple sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system. It is the most common non-traumatic cause of neurological injury in young and middle-aged adults and a major medical burden.

The study was published in science 2022 research shows that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection greatly increases the risk of developing MS and makes it nearly impossible to develop MS without first contracting the virus.

EBV infection is also known to cause mononucleosis and is very common (more than 95%) in the human population. Nearly all people with multiple sclerosis are first infected with EBV, and only 0.2-0.3% of people infected with EBV eventually develop multiple sclerosis.

There are currently no available preventive treatments for EBV infection and MS.

Huge potential

The goal is to develop a new treatment for multiple sclerosis that targets the underlying drivers of the disease rather than downstream consequences. Furthermore, if successful, it would identify people at high risk of developing MS following EBV infection and provide high-risk groups with the possibility of primary prevention of the disease. This project has the potential to provide mechanistic evidence that EBV is a prerequisite for the development and progression of MS, which could form the basis for developing strategies to eradicate the disease.

“This groundbreaking research program has great potential to advance treatment options for people with multiple sclerosis. By exploring the complex EBV-MS link, it also provides the opportunity to better understand the disease and develop preventive measures.

Ultimately, this will improve the quality of life for people with MS and bring us one step closer to a future free of the burden of MS. ” said Elisabeth Kasilingam, CEO of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform.

EBV-MS project: Treating and preventing multiple sclerosis against Epstein-Barr virus infection

Horizon Europe funds €7 million between 2024-2028

main researcher:
Professor Kjell-Morten Myhr, University of Bergen, Director of Neuro-Sysmed Clinical Research Center, Norway
Professor Øivind Torkildsen, Haukeland University Hospital and Neurological Clinical Research Center, Haukeland, Norway

Project partners and affiliated entities:

University of Bergen, Norway (Coordinator) and Haukeland University Hospital, Norway

Oslo University Hospital, Stavanger University Hospital, Akershus University Hospital and Westviken Health Trust, Norway

Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Sapienza University of Rome, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma SRL and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla Fism Onlus (Italy)

Harvard University, USA

University Pompeu Fabra, Center for Genomic Regulation and Hospital Research Institute Del Mar, Barcelona, ​​Spain

European Multiple Sclerosis Platform AISBL, Belgium

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