title: Molecular mimicry and auto-immunity.
abstract: The term "molecular mimicry" was coined by R. Damian in 1964, who was first to suggest that antigenic determinants of micro-organisms may resemble antigenic determinants of their host. Damian suggested that this similarity served as a defense mechanism of a microorganism from the host's immune system and prevented the development of immune response to the micro-organism, thereby protecting it from host defense. Years later, the term "molecular mimicry" was attributed a different meaning-namely, antigenic determinants of microorganisms might elicit an auto-immune response that harms the host. The concept of molecular mimicry is based on a structural similarity between a pathogen or metabolite and self-structures. The similarity could be expressed as shared amino acid sequences (linear or mimotope) or similar conformational structure between a pathogen and self-antigen. "Molecular mimicry" has become a very popular explanation for the frequent association of infection with auto-immune disease.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000276:immunology*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000276:immunology