The study, entitled “Anoctamin-2-specific T cells link Epstein–Barr virus to multiple sclerosis”, describes how certain T cells activated by Epstein–Barr virus, a common herpesvirus, can also react to a protein in the central nervous system. The researchers identify an immunological mechanism that helps explain the link between EBV infection and the development of MS.

The study presents the first mechanistic evidence showing how EBV-specific CD4⁺ T cells can target the MS autoantigen ANO2, thereby establishing an immunological link between EBV infection and neuroinflammation. The work was led by Professor Tomas Olsson, with Assistant Professor Olivia Thomas as the first author. Both are based at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet, and the research reflects an extensive academic collaboration.

Neogap contributed to the study by applying the method for detecting antigen-specific T cells, originally developed by Associate Professor Hans Grönlund’s research group at Karolinska Institutet. Hans Grönlund, CSO and founder of Neogap Therapeutics, is one of the senior authors on the Cell publication, together with additional co-authors who are affiliated with Neogap.

In this work, antigen-coupled particles were used to analyse highly specific T cell responses relevant to the study’s central research question. The method is based on principles that underpin Neogap’s EpiTCer^® technology.

The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of T cell–driven mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. They build on earlier research in the field, where Neogap’s technology has enabled the identification and characterisation of autoantigens in MS and provided insights into the link between EBV and MS. The study further illustrates how Neogap’s patented technology and IP can be applied in advanced, independent research beyond the company’s own development programmes.

EpiTCer^® – Neogap’s technology for precise analysis of T cell responses
EpiTCer^® is Neogap’s patented technology for identifying and analysing highly specific T cell responses. The technology is based on controlled presentation of selected antigens and enables the study of rare, antigen-specific T cells with high sensitivity. EpiTCer® is used in both Neogap’s internal development programmes and academic collaborations, demonstrating the platform’s broad applicability and long-term relevance in immunology.

“Having our technology used in research published in Cell is a clear endorsement of its scientific quality. For Neogap, this is about building a long-term, relevant technology and IP platform, where strong academic collaborations are a key component,” says Samuel Svensson, CEO of Neogap Therapeutics.

Publication reference:
Thomas O. et al. Anoctamin-2-specific T cells link Epstein–Barr virus to multiple sclerosis.
Cell (2026).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867425014813

Neogap co-authors on the publication: Hans Grönlund, Guro Gafvelin, Birce Akpinar and Ola Nilsson.

Karolinska Institutet press release:
New mechanism links Epstein–Barr virus to MS