Infection and Autoimmunity

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 andpolyclonal activation. An overview is given with regard to bacteria, viruses, and parasites associated with autoimmunity, anda summary is given on classical autoimmune diseases and the infecting agents that can induce them.
Includes completely updated and new chaptersBrings the reader up to date and allows easy access to individual topics in one placeIdentifies infectious agents as pathogenic or protective in many autoimmune diseases " View Less