Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Establishment and Quantification of De Novo Lytic Infection by Cell-free Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus
07:10

Establishment and Quantification of De Novo Lytic Infection by Cell-free Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

Published on: August 15, 2025

846

Heterogeneity in association of remote herpesvirus infections and pediatric MS

Bardia Nourbakhsh1, Alice Rutatangwa2, Michael Waltz3

  • 1Department of Neurology Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|October 24, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infections are linked to pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. Genetic factors like HLA-DRB1*15:01 modify these associations, indicating complex environmental and genetic influences on MS development.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a known risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • Associations between other common herpesviruses and MS susceptibility have been less clear.
  • Understanding viral and genetic interactions is crucial for pediatric MS research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between remote infections with EBV and other herpesviruses (CMV, HSV-1, HSV-2) and pediatric MS risk.
  • To explore potential interactions between viral infections, genetic factors (HLA-DRB1*15:01), and demographic factors (race, ethnicity) in pediatric MS.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 356 pediatric MS cases and 493 controls from 16 US pediatric MS centers.
  • Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between serological evidence of past viral infections and MS status.
  • Analysis included adjustments for confounders and explored effect heterogeneity based on race, ethnicity, and HLA-DRB1*15:01 status.

Main Results:

  • EBV seropositivity was strongly associated with increased odds of pediatric MS (OR 7.4, 95% CI: 4.5-12.0).
  • HSV-1 seropositivity was associated with increased MS odds (OR 1.54), particularly in White individuals (OR 2.18) and those negative for HLA-DRB1*15:01 (OR 1.89).
  • The impact of EBV infection on MS risk varied by race and HLA-DRB1*15:01 status.

Conclusions:

  • EBV seropositivity is a significant risk factor for pediatric MS.
  • HSV-1 seropositivity is associated with increased pediatric MS risk, especially in specific genetic and racial subgroups.
  • These findings highlight a complex interplay between viral exposures, genetic predisposition, and demographic factors in the development of pediatric MS.

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Model for Studying Cellular Transformation by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus09:53

An In Vitro Model for Studying Cellular Transformation by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus

Published on: August 25, 2017

9.3K
Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation11:19

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Published on: January 17, 2011

18.5K

Related Concept Videos

Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
9.4K
Associative Learning01:27

Associative Learning

Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
1.3K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
262
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
15.7K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
304
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
226