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In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulating layer of myelin that surrounds nerve cells in brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. This interferes with the ability to send messages to the rest of the body.
For many years, we have known that infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) increases a person’s risk of developing MS.
EBV infection can cause infectious mononucleosis, or glandular fever. However many people infected with EBV, especially in childhood, experience very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and may not even realise they carry the virus.
EBV infection is common, affecting around 90 per cent of adults globally. However, it is almost universal in people with MS.
A landmark study published in 2022 provided the strongest evidence yet that infection with EBV is necessary to develop MS.
Among 10 million US military personnel monitored over many years, MS only developed after being infected with EBV. This was not true for other viruses. Signs of nerve degeneration appeared several years prior to MS onset, but only after EBV infection.
Until we can prevent EBV infection, there is no way to definitively prove that infection with EBV causes MS. Current evidence suggests that EBV infection is necessary to develop MS but cannot cause MS by itself. It is not necessary to have had glandular fever in order to develop MS.
A combination of genetics, environmental and/or lifestyle factors also play a role, and may themselves modify the response to EBV.
We don’t yet know whether EBV only triggers the immune attack on the brain and spinal cord, or whether it also drives ongoing disease processes.
Understanding this will help us work out whether targeting EBV infection might be effective not only in preventing MS, but also in treating MS.
For more detail on the role of EBV in MS, see here.
The EBV National Collaborative Platform brings together Australian researchers investigating the role of EBV in MS; and the potential to target EBV to prevent or treat MS.  Â
In 2022, following long-term advocacy by MS Australia to the Australian Federal Government for MS research support, a funding opportunity for EBV research in MS was announced. MS Australia convened a workshop in Brisbane in June 2022 to develop funding applications. From these, a total of $10 million was awarded for EBV research in MS commencing 2023.
In October 2023, a second workshop was held in Sydney to identify project synergies and plan the development of an Australian MS Biobank to support these projects.
EBV in MS National Collaborative Platform was formally launched in 2024 to support and synergise ongoing Australian MS research in EBV.
The Platform provides in-kind support for the Working Group and other EBV researchers in MS for collaborative activities including covening activities, grant activities and scientific and biobanking support.
As part of this Platform, a national EBV in MS Working Group was convened in 2024, chaired by MS neurologist and EBV researcher (to be determined). This group includes clinical and academic researchers working on MS Australia-funded projects, government-funded projects for which we are a partner organisation, and other projects addressing EBV in MS in Australia.
This group shares research progress, international developments, and collaborative opportunities including funding and biobanking for EBV research.
Please contact research@msaustralia.org.au if you are interested in joining the quarterly Working Group scientific meetings or mailing list.
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MS Australia has partnered with Australian research teams in five successful bids for government funding for research into the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in MS, totalling almost $10 million.
