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Peter Skinhøj

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Skinhøj.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Conflicting selective forces affect T cell receptor contacts in an immunodominant human immunodeficiency virus epitope.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are critical for the control of human immunodeficiency virus, but containment of virus replication can be undermined by mutations in CTL epitopes that lead to virus escape. We analyzed the evolution in vivo of an immunodominant, HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope and found two principal, diametrically opposed evolutionary pathways that exclusively affect T cell-receptor contact residues. One pathway was characterized by acquisition of CTL escape mutations and the other by selection for wild-type amino acids. The pattern of CTL responses to epitope variants shaped which variant(s) prevailed in the virus population. The pathways notably influenced the amount of plasma virus, as patients with efficient CTL selection had lower plasma viral loads than did patients without efficient selection. Thus, viral escape from CTL responses does not necessarily correlate with disease progression.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Angola, 2005].

The current outbreak of Marburg haemorrhagic fever (MHF) in Angola is the largest recorded to date. The article provides an overview of MHF, including historical and clinical aspects, and summarises the status of the present outbreak. Until now, the main components of the public health response in Angola have been effective diagnosis and isolation of patients and contacts, and implementation of hygiene procedures by health workers at local health facilities. Involvement of the local community still constitutes the main challenge for successful control of MHF in Angola.

Angola↗
PubMed2005

[Bioterrorism].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMed2005

Reemergence of emm1 and a changed superantigen profile for group A streptococci causing invasive infections: results from a nationwide study.

Between 1999 and 2002, 496 invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) isolates from clinical microbiological departments in Denmark and subsequently 487 (98%) questionnaires from the clinicians treating the patients were received as part of a national surveillance. emm types and streptococcal superantigen (SAg) genes were determined. The incidence of invasive GAS infections was on average 2.3 per 100,000 per year. Bacteremia with no focal symptoms (27%) was together with erysipelas (20%) the most prevalent clinical diagnoses. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome occurred in 10% of patients, of which 56% died. The overall case fatality rate within 30 days was 23%. In total, 47 different emm types were identified, of which emm1, emm3, emm4, emm12, emm28, and emm89 were identified in 72% of the 493 available isolates. During the 4-year period the presence of emm1 increased from 16% in 1999 to 40% in 2002. Concurrently, the presence of emm3 decreased from 23% in 1999 to 2% in 2002. The emm1 isolates predominantly carried speA, although the frequency decreased from 94% in 1999 to 71% in 2002, whereas the emm1-specific prevalence of speC increased from 25 to 53%. In a historical perspective, this could be interpreted as a reemergence of emm1 and could indicate a possible introduction of a new emm1 subclone. However, this reemergence did not result in any significant changes in the clinical manifestations during the study period. Our results show the complexity of invasive GAS infections, with time-dependent variations in the incidence and distribution of emm and SAg genes, which emphasizes the need for continuous epidemiological and molecular investigations.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2005

Variations in emm type among group A streptococcal isolates causing invasive or noninvasive infections in a nationwide study.

Since the late 1980s several studies have described the increased incidence and severity of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections. However, most studies on GAS pathogenesis have focused on information obtained during outbreaks. We analyzed isolate distribution and host susceptibility as part of a nationwide prospective surveillance study performed between January 2001 and August 2002. GAS isolates collected from 201 patients with invasive infections, 335 patients with noninvasive infections, and 17 asymptomatic carriers were characterized with respect to their emm types and superantigen genotypes. The superantigen-neutralizing capacity and levels of antibodies against streptolysin O and DNAse B were determined for isolates from the sera from 36 invasive cases and 91 noninvasive cases. emm type 1 (emm-1) isolates were significantly more common among invasive cases, whereas emm-4, emm-6, and emm-12 dominated among the noninvasive cases. The distributions of the phage-associated superantigen genes (speA, speC, speH, speI, ssa) differed among invasive and noninvasive isolates, mainly due to their linkage to certain emm types. No significant differences in serum superantigen-neutralizing capacities were observed. The levels of anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNAse B antibodies were highest in the sera from invasive cases. Our study emphasizes the importance of obtaining data during years with stable incidences, which will enable evaluation of future outbreak data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of HIV-1 RNA and DNA loads in blood and the female genital tract.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if correlates of HIV-1 genital shedding in cross-sectional studies can be used to determine the risk of shedding in individual HIV-1-positive women. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal samples from blood and cervix were obtained from 18 HIV-1 infected women, and HIV-1 RNA and cell-associated DNA virus, and beta-chemokine levels, were measured. Associations between variables were analyzed at both individual and group level. RESULTS: The variation over time was 2.9-, 2.1-, and 2.3-fold in plasma RNA, PBMC DNA and cervical RNA load, respectively, and reached 6.2-fold in cervical DNA load. Differences were observed between associations in individual- and group-level comparisons, suggesting that a separate reservoir of HIV replication may exist in the genital tract of some women, which is influenced by local environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscores the importance of caution during contact with genital fluids at all stages of infection and disease regardless of treatment and HIV-1 blood loads.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Life-long morbidity among Danes with poliomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate long-term morbidity in a cohort of Danish poliomyelitis patients. DESIGN: A historical prospective cohort study of 27,047 persons. SETTING: Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5421 persons hospitalized for poliomyelitis between 1919 to 1954 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and 21,626 age- and gender-matched Danes. Participants were followed up on average for 20.6 years, yielding a total of 555,884 person-years of follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The exposed (poliomyelitis) cohort and the unexposed (control) cohort were followed up for somatic hospitalization from 1977 to 1999 in the Danish Hospital Discharge Register. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was calculated as the ratio between the incidence rate of disease in the exposed and unexposed cohorts. RESULTS: Overall, polio patients had a 1.2- to 1.3-fold increased risk of being hospitalized with pulmonary diseases, heart diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, or diseases of the locomotive apparatus. Among paralytic polio patients, long-term morbidity seems to be associated with the acute severity of poliomyelitis, as well as young age at infection. Paralytic patients, who contracted respiratory polio under the age of 5, had the highest risk of being hospitalized with lung diseases (IRR=7.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.06-18.33), diseases of the locomotive apparatus (IRR=4.05; 95% CI, 1.66-9.86), heart diseases (IRR=1.70; 95% CI, 0.65-3.98), and diseases of the digestive system (IRR= 2.23; 95% CI, 1.03-4.62). Surprisingly, patients without paralyses, especially women, also had an increased morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a history of poliomyelitis was associated with a slightly increased morbidity measured by hospitalizations. Long-term morbidity was highest among respiratory polio patients; however, patients presumably left without any residual symptoms also had an increased morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[SARS. Severe acute respiratory syndrome].

Since November 2002 an epidemic of a new severe respiratory infection has taken place primarily in South-East Asia. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is assumed caused by a recently identified corona virus, which seems to be a new pathogen in the human population. The infection is assumed transferred primarily with droplets and is highly contagious within healthcare settings and families. Respiratory and barrier precautions are necessary to contain the virus, as it is contact tracing.

Contact Tracing↗