Infections are known to trigger flares of autoimmune diseases in humans and serve as an
inciting cause of autoimmunity in animals. Evidence suggests a causative role of infections …

Introduction: Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system recognizes and attacks host
tissue. In addition to genetic factors, environmental triggers (in particular viruses, bacteria …

The relationship between infections and autoimmunity as well as the risk of infections due to
antirheumatic agents, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biologics, are …

The onset of autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis is often
thought to be associated with infection. This has led to studies of molecular mimicry between …

The possible role of infections in driving autoimmune disease (AD) has long been debated.
Many theories have emerged including release of hidden antigens, epitope spread, anti …

The vast interindividual clinical variability observed in any microbial infection—ranging from
silent infection to lethal disease—is increasingly being explained by human genetic and …

In the thymus, most T cells that react avidly with self-peptides in association with MHC
molecules are physically or functionally deleted. However, it is clear that not all potentially …

Autoimmunity can be triggered by many environmental factors, among which infectious
agents are pivotal. Here, we summarize current knowledge of the relationship between …

Highlights•Cross-reactions between epitopes of an invading microorganism and similar
epitopes in the host are common. Only rarely is epitope mimicry known to cause an …

Autoimmunity refers to an inappropriate immune response against self-components of the
host that results in pathological conditions. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an …