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In this thesis I describe two viruses. In the first part I illustrate why
only some of us are infected during an outbreak with norovirus, the
virus causing the yearly appearing “winter vomiting disease”. I also
describe a norovirus strain, which has circumvented the factor that
normally prevents the virus to infect parts of the population.
The other virus discussed in the thesis is tick-borne encephalitis virus
(TBEV). TBEV is, as the name implies, transmitted to humans from
ticks and while most infections are asymptomatic, some patients develop tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), with severe symptoms including
meningitis or encephalitis. We have found two host genetic factors
involved in the immune response, which affect the risk of TBE.
Division of Molecular Virology
Department of Clinical
and Experimental Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
SE-581 85 Linköping
Department of Forensic Genetics
and Forensic Toxicology
National Board of Forensic Medicine
SE-587 58 Linköping
HOST GENETIC RISK FACTORS TO VIRAL DISEASES A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD ELIN KINDBERG
Studies of host genetic risk factors to viral diseases describe
how our genes affect the risk of being infected, or to develop disease
after infection with a specific virus. With increased knowledge of
why susceptibility to infectious diseases differs between individuals
it may be possible to improve treatment and to foresee who are at
risk for a certain infection. However, a genetic setup that makes
an individual resistant to one pathogen can make him or her more
susceptible to another - like a double-edged sword.
HOST GENETIC RISK
FACTORS TO VIRAL
DISEASES
A DOUBLEEDGED SWORD
STUDIES ON NOROVIRUS
AND TICK-BORNE
ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS
ELIN KINDBERG
MEDICAL DISSERTATIONS No.1183 LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY 2010
In this thesis I describe two viruses. In the first part I illustrate why
only some of us are infected during an outbreak with norovirus, the
virus causing the yearly appearing “winter vomiting disease”. I also
describe a norovirus strain, which has circumvented the factor that
normally prevents the virus to infect parts of the population.
The other virus discussed in the thesis is tick-borne encephalitis virus
(TBEV). TBEV is, as the name implies, transmitted to humans from
ticks and while most infections are asymptomatic, some patients develop tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), with severe symptoms including
meningitis or encephalitis. We have found two host genetic factors
involved in the immune response, which affect the risk of TBE.
Division of Molecular Virology
Department of Clinical
and Experimental Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
SE-581 85 Linköping
Department of Forensic Genetics
and Forensic Toxicology
National Board of Forensic Medicine
SE-587 58 Linköping
HOST GENETIC RISK FACTORS TO VIRAL DISEASES A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD ELIN KINDBERG
Studies of host genetic risk factors to viral diseases describe
how our genes affect the risk of being infected, or to develop disease
after infection with a specific virus. With increased knowledge of
why susceptibility to infectious diseases differs between individuals
it may be possible to improve treatment and to foresee who are at
risk for a certain infection. However, a genetic setup that makes
an individual resistant to one pathogen can make him or her more
susceptible to another - like a double-edged sword.
HOST GENETIC RISK
FACTORS TO VIRAL
DISEASES
A DOUBLEEDGED SWORD
STUDIES ON NOROVIRUS
AND TICK-BORNE
ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS
ELIN KINDBERG
MEDICAL DISSERTATIONS No.1183 LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY 2010