There is a striking likeness between an old model for the action of mobile genetic elements in Maize and recent observations on endogenous retroviruses in human Multiple Sclerosis. Nexø discussed this and other developments in his recent theory on autoimmunity. Specifically, in analogy to the onc genes Nexø suggest that insertion of a retrovirus activates a so-called aut gene. This aut gene may well be an EBV genome. 

Retroviruses and EBV have been championed by different schools of thought as inducers of autoimmunity. The present theory suggests ending this competition between schools: They are both right. The viruses synergize! Probably, they even form a hybrid genome.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) are classically viewed as effectors of cellular immunity, eliminating infected or malignant cells. Yet an underappreciated facet of their biology is their capacity to impose negative regulation on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and B cells. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that overly robust CTL responses may inadvertently impair humoral immunity by prematurely trimming APC lifespan, constraining T follicular helper (Tfh) induction, and reducing antibody production and immune durability.