There is a pressing need to reduce the high global disease burden of rheumatic heart
disease (RHD) and its harbinger, acute rheumatic fever (ARF). ARF is a classical example of …

The innate immune system is the first line of host defense against infection and is comprised
of humoral and cellular mechanisms that recognize potential pathogens within minutes or …

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a serious and long-term consequence of acute rheumatic
fever (ARF), an autoimmune sequela of a mucosal infection by Streptococcus pyogenes …

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes superficial and invasive infections and immune
mediated post-infectious sequalae (including acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart …

The lectin pathway of the complement system has a pivotal role in the defense against
infectious organisms. After binding of mannan-binding lectin (MBL), ficolins or collectin 11 to …

Background Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine proteases 2 (MASP-
2) are important proteins in the lectin pathway of the immune system. Polymorphism of MBL …

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common non-scarring hair loss disease of defined patterns with
varied patches size and body sites. The etiology of AA has a complex basis of autoimmunity …

Genetic association studies in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have the potential to
contribute toward our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanism, and may shed light on …

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
in low-and middle-income countries, where living conditions promote spread of group A β …

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a consequence of pharyngeal infection of group A
streptococcal (GAS) infection. Carditis is the most common manifestation of ARF which …