Abstract
Molecular mimicry, the concept that antigenic determinants of microorganisms resemble antigenic determinants of the host, is frequently cited as a plausible mechanism to account for the association of infection and autoimmune disease. Based on analogous sequences of amino acids or on cross-reactions of monoclonal antibodies, numerous examples of such mimicry have been reported. There are, however, no clear examples of a human disease caused by molecular mimicry.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 542-551 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Autoimmunity
- Lyme disease
- Molecular mimicry
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myocarditis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Type 1 diabetes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Cell Biology