It is postulated that autoimmunity evolves in the following steps: (1) CD8+ T-cell deficiency; (2) primary EBV infection; (3) decreased CD8+ T-cell control of EBV; (4) increased EBV load and increased anti-EBV antibodies; (5) EBV infection in the target organ; (6) clonal expansion of EBV-infected autoreactive B cells in the target organ; (7) infiltration of autoreactive T cells into the target organ; and (8) development of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the target organ (Figure 2). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is congenital T-cell immunodeficiency.