Recently, the news of the multiple sclerosis vaccine reached the media. While this is undoubtedly great news, some details need to be considered before celebrating. The new one emerged after positive results in trials of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus in humanized mice were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The team of scientists consists of researchers from the US National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

A vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus, not against multiple sclerosis.
The first thing to keep in mind is that this vaccine works to neutralize the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has been linked to numerous diseases, not multiple sclerosis (MS). EBV is one of the main causes of mononucleosis, but it can also cause lymphoma and stomach cancers. It is estimated that 200,000 cancer cases per year are caused by this virus. It is one of the most common viruses in humans, but its infection is often undetected, meaning they are asymptomatic infections.

So why is it said to be against Sclerosis?
Recently, EBV has also been associated with the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). He was involved in a study published in the journal Science, conducted with volunteers from the US Army for over 20 years. The authors of the study observed that the odds of suffering from MS in those infected with EBV were multiplied by 32 MS. It occurs due to disruption of the membrane that covers some of the neurons, myelin, throughout the central nervous system.

If it can prevent EBV infection, the vaccine is expected to be able to prevent EBV-related diseases. In the press release that was published and announcing the finding, it was announced that the “candidate vaccine” could reduce the virulence of EBV, which would reduce infectious mononucleosis and “possibly” EBV-related cancers. The language used by the scientists themselves requires caution.

If it’s so common, how come we don’t have a vaccine already?
Given the prevalence of EBV and the severity of some of the diseases it is associated with, the study’s authors point out the absence of vaccines against this virus. But this development is not the only candidate proposed.

Moderna, one of the companies developing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against the coronavirus. This candidate (renamed aseptic mRNA-1189) is based on exactly the same technology. It entered Phase 1 in January, meaning it was already administered to a very limited number of people to check for relevant adverse effects before moving on to larger trials.

How does this new vaccine work?
Instead, the formula proposed in the new vaccine candidate is based on a pair of nanoparticles that self-assemble and present proteins that allow the virus to enter cells. The presence of these proteins in the body forces the formation of antibodies that protect against the virus.

animal models.
According to the article, the treatment elicited an immune response in mice, ferrets, and non-human primates. The next step was to use humanized mice, which are laboratory mice that contain some human-derived biological traits. Therefore, it is a vaccine that is still in an early stage of development.

Especially in the so-called pre-clinical stage, which means it still has a long way to go before it’s approved for the public. Vaccine development has been sped up to reach the Covid vaccine, but it’s unlikely that authorities will give this serum the same level of urgency. In all cases, there are at least three stages of testing in humans to ensure its safety and efficacy in humans.

Image | Mufid Majnun