Infection and Autoimmunity

Fully revised and updated to include the latest research in the field, Infections and Autoimmunity, 2nd edition encompasses the different mechanisms involved in infection-autoimmunity association and induction

Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the immune system attacks the body organs instead of foreign invaders. This book deals with the various mechanisms by which infectious agents can trigger autoimmunity such as molecular mimicry and polyclonal activation. An overview is given with regard to bacteria, viruses, and parasites associated with autoimmunity, and a summary is given on classical autoimmune diseases and the infecting agents that can induce them.