Human genetics shape persistent Epstein-Barr virus control and autoimmune risk

A large-scale study using UK Biobank and All of Us genome data detects EBV reads in a subset of individuals, linking higher EBV load to HIV, immunosuppression, and smoking; GWAS identifies major associations in MHC/HLA and additional loci including ERAP2, with EBV load polygenic burden tied to multiple sclerosis (MHC class I) and rheumatoid arthritis (MHC class II) and overlaps with inflammatory diseases like IBD, hypothyroidism, and type 1 diabetes; proposes host-genome–derived markers of EBV persistence to guide future research and therapy.