On Friday 17 May at 14.00, Morten Kelder Skouboe defends his PhD dissertation entitled "Type I interferon defects in viral infections of the central nervous system".

This PhD project has focused on a branch of the antiviral immune defense called interferons in patients with severe brain infections caused by live attenuated vaccines or herpes simplex virus.

The first part of the project is about a newly discovered genetic variant in the interferon receptor which, in rare cases, underlies a high risk of severe disease after vaccination with live attenuated vaccines, including the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, as well as respiratory infections such as influenza or coronavirus. The variant is prevalent among Arctic peoples, including the Greenlandic and Alaskan native populations.

The second part of the project investigates the prevalence of autoimmune antibodies targeting interferons among patients with herpes simplex brain infections. To that end, blood samples and cerebrospinal fluid have been analyzed to document the prevalence and functional importance of such antibodies. The underlying hypothesis is that, during an episode of herpes brain infection, antibodies are present and shut down a part of the interferon system, causing a lack of antiviral immune defense.

The summary is written by the PhD student.

The defence is public and takes place in the Merete Barker Auditorium (1253-211), Søauditorierne, Aarhus University. Please see the press release for more information. 

Contact

PhD student Morten Kelder Skouboe
Mail: mks@biomed.au.dk   
Phone: +45 28 90 28 06

Read full press release