HHV-6B (a common herpesvirus) and its link to ME/CFS and Long COVID
Official title: Human Herpesvirus 6B in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome pathogenesis: temporal analysis of viral reactivation and immunity to elucidate cause vs effect
Funded at London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11159442 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will follow adults with ME/CFS, some with Long COVID, and healthy controls over time to find out whether reactivation of herpesvirus HHV-6B is linked to changes in symptoms and immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $529,473 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170839-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159442 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 18–60 with a confirmed diagnosis of ME/CFS, adults with Long COVID who meet ME/CFS criteria, and eligible healthy or post-COVID controls able to provide samples and attend follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people outside the 18–60 age range, those unable or unwilling to provide blood/saliva samples or attend follow-up, or those without ME/CFS or Long COVID are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit.
What this research studies
You would be invited through the UK ME/CFS Biobank to give blood and saliva samples and basic clinical information at multiple visits. The researchers will test samples for HHV-6B DNA and a range of immune markers and compare the timing of any viral reactivation with symptom changes. The study includes people with ME/CFS (including severe cases), a small Long COVID group with ME/CFS-like symptoms, short-COVID recoverees, and healthy controls. Measurements will be tracked over months to help define whether virus reactivation precedes or follows immune changes and symptom flares.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify whether HHV-6B contributes to ME/CFS symptoms and point toward targeted antiviral or immune-based treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Small earlier studies have suggested links between herpesviruses and ME/CFS but results are mixed, so this larger longitudinal design is relatively novel for clarifying cause versus effect.
Where this research is happening
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London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cliff, Jackie — London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Cliff, Jackie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Human Herpesvirus 6B and ME/CFS: does the virus cause or follow immune problems?
A study to see if HHV-6B reactivation is a cause or result of immune problems in people with ME/CFS, using long-term follow-up and biosamples from patients and controls.
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Long COVID as a possible subtype of chronic fatigue syndrome
A study at a major hospital will look at whether Long COVID shares biology with chronic fatigue syndrome and what genetic and immune factors may link them.
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Is Long COVID a subtype of chronic fatigue syndrome?
This project looks at whether people with Long COVID share the same genetic and immune signs as people with chronic fatigue syndrome by analyzing large collections of patient data.
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Long COVID may be a form of chronic fatigue syndrome
This project looks for shared genetic and immune causes in people with Long COVID and people with chronic fatigue syndrome to explain lingering symptoms.
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Investigating T Cell Responses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
This study is looking at how a type of immune cell called T cells behaves in people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) compared to healthy individuals, to help uncover clues about the condition and find better ways to treat it.
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Investigating muscle cells to improve diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome
This study is looking at muscle cells from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to find out how they differ from those of healthy individuals, with the hope of discovering new ways to diagnose and better understand the condition, especially for those who developed symptoms after COVID
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.