title: Structural basis of molecular mimicry.
abstract: Infectious agents are thought to play an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Sequence similarity between infectious agents and self-proteins (molecular mimicry) has been proposed as a mechanism for the induction of autoimmunity [1]. However, it has been difficult to identify microbial peptides that activate autoreactive T cells using conventional sequence alignments. This chapter reviews progress made in the identification of such microbial peptides based on the analysis of structural features that are important for TCR recognition of MHC-bound peptides [2].
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology & AIDS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. wucherpf@mbcrr.harvard.edu
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wucherpfennig
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000737:chemistry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014764:Viral Proteins; C107908:myelin basic protein 85-99