Abstract For more than 2,000 years, it was thought that malignant spirits caused diseases.
By the end of nineteenth century, these beliefs were displaced by more modern concepts of …

The relationship between infections and autoimmunity as well as the risk of infections due to
antirheumatic agents, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biologics, are …

The relationship between infections and autoimmunity is complex. Current evidence
indicates that microbes can initiate, enhance, or, conversely, abrogate autoimmunity. In this …

Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system recognizes and attacks host tissue. In
addition to genetic factors, environmental triggers (in particular viruses, bacteria and other …

The studies summarized in this chapter indicate that chronic bacterial, viral, and parasitic
infections can serve as a trigger factor of autoimmune reactivity according to various …

The autoimmune diseases result from inappropriate responses of the immune system to self
antigens. The etiology of autoimmune diseases remains largely unknown but candidate …

For many readers, the title 'pathogen infection and autoimmune disease'might suggest that
pathogens are the suspected drivers of autoimmune disease. This, of course, is a perfectly …

The incidence of some autoimmune diseases has increased dramatically in recent years in
the developed world. Many autoimmune diseases are governed by both genetic and …

Autoimmunity can be triggered by many environmental factors, among which infectious
agents are pivotal. Here, we summarize current knowledge of the relationship between …

Most infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, can trigger autoimmunity via
different mechanisms. The development of an autoimmune disorder after infection tends to …