Visiting Molecular Mimicry Once More: Pathogenicity, Virulence, and Autoimmunity.

ABSTRACT: The concept of molecular mimicry describes situations in which antigen sharing between parasites and hosts could benefit pathogen evasion from host immune responses. However, antigen sharing can generate host responses to parasite-derived self-like peptides, triggering autoimmunity. Since its conception, molecular mimicry and the consequent potential cross-reactivity following infections have been repeatedly described in humans, raising increasing interest among immunologists. Here, we reviewed this concept focusing on the challenge of maintaining host immune tolerance to self-components in parasitic diseases. We focused on the studies that used genomics and bioinformatics to estimate the extent of antigen sharing between proteomes of different organisms. In addition, we comparatively anal

SUBMITTER: Martins YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10301193 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature