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An absence of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation and associations with disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis undergoing therapeutic hookworm vaccination
Gran, Bruno Tanasescu, Radu Constantinescu, Cris S.
Gran, Bruno
Tanasescu, Radu
Constantinescu, Cris S.
Abstract
Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is strongly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Helminth infection can downregulate antiviral immune responses, potentially protecting against MS, but with a theoretical risk for reactivating latent EBV infection. Objective(s): To investigate parameters of EBV infection and their relationship with disease activity in people with MS (PwMS) therapeutically vaccinated with Necator americanus (hookworm). Method(s): Sequential serum samples from 51 PwMS; 26 therapeutically infected (25 larvae) with N. americanus and 25 controls were tested for EBV virus capsid antigen (VCA) IgG and IgM, EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG, and EBV early antigen (EA) IgG. Disease activity was assessed by periodic MRI. Significance was set at p 600 units/mL) or EBNA-1 IgG (>150 units/mL); however, there was no association with hookworm treatment. Interpretation(s): Therapeutic hookworm vaccination was not associated with EBV reactivation. Multiple sclerosis disease activity was associated with high levels of EBV VCA IgG or EBNA-1 IgG.Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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Date
2020
Type
Article
Subject
Epstein-Barr virus, Immunity, Multiple sclerosis, Hookworms
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Citation
Maple, P.A.C., Gran, B., Tanasescu, R., Pritchard, D.I. and Constantinescu, C.S. (2020) 'An absence of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation and associations with disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis undergoing therapeutic hookworm vaccination', Vaccines, 8(3), 487. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030487 https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030487.