Multiple sclerosis could be prevented by targeting cells that react to common virus, Irish researcher finds

Multiple sclerosis could be halted by targeting cells that react to common virus linked to the disease, Irish researcher finds

Dr Éanna Fennell. Photo: Alan Place

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a life-­shortening, debilitating neurological condition trhat affects over 9,000 people in Ireland, could be slowed or stopped by blocking the brain inflammation triggered by infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

That’s according to research published yesterday in the Nature journal, which involved Dr Éanna Fennell, an Irish researcher based at the lab of Professor Christian Munz at Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich.