Moleculera Labs Educational Series:

Molecular Mimicry as a Mechanism of Autoimmune Disease 1

Antibodies And Infectious Agents

In this study, published in Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, Fujinami and colleagues determine, “Chronic autoimmune diseases are the byproduct of the immune system recognizing self-antigens as foreign, which can lead to inflammation and destruction of specific tissues and organs. The impact of these diseases is global and heterogeneous with over 100 million people afflicted with more than 80 different autoimmune diseases.” 1 Additionally, they examine the role of two supplementary mechanisms by which infections can initiate and exacerbate autoimmune disease.

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Molecular mimicry as an inducing trigger for CNS autoimmune demyelinating disease

In this Immunological Reviews publication, Miller and Chastain look more specifically at molecular mimicry as a trigger for CNS autoimmune demyelinating disease and conclude that “molecular mimicry is a viable explanation for the induction of a wide variety of autoimmune diseases.” 2

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Schedule Your Personal Phone Consultation

Learn more about how the Cunningham Panel™ of tests can assist you in diagnosing treatable autoimmune encephalopathies characterized by abnormal neuropsychiatric behaviors. Schedule your personal phone consultation with a Moleculera Labs clinical staff member by completing the form below or call Amy Cross, RN, at 405-239-5254.


  1. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Fujinami RS. Molecular Mimicry as a Mechanism of Autoimmune Disease. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology. 2012;42(1):102-111.
  2. Chastain, E. M. L. and Miller, S. D. (2012), Molecular mimicry as an inducing trigger for CNS autoimmune demyelinating disease. Immunological Reviews, 245: 227–238.