While our finding of reduced circulating magnesium levels in sporadic NPC cases compared to controls does not directly implicate NIPAL1, our findings take on added significance when considered in light of the recent discovery that null mutations in another magnesium transport gene, MAGT1, which abrogates magnesium flux in NK and CD8 T cells, predisposes to uncontrolled EBV infection and EBV-associated lymphomas11,21. The gene discussed is NIPAL1; the disease is Epstein-Barr virus infection.