Recognition of Epstein-Barr Virus in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms of MS include cognitive, motoric, sensory and visual impairment, pain and fatigue. The genetic background of the host and infection with the herpesvirus family member Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are risk factors for developing MS but the pathogenic mechanisms are unknown. In this thesis we set out to clarify the putative role of EBV in MS by analyzing the intrathecal viral prevalence, breadth and magnitude of humoral and cellular EBV-specific immune responses and autoimmune responses in MS patients