Molecular mimicry
Molecular mimicry is a biological phenomenon where a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, has similar molecular structures to its host. This similarity can lead to an immune response against the host's own cells, potentially causing autoimmune diseases.
Pronunciation
Molecular mimicry is pronounced as /məˈlɛkjʊlər ˈmɪmɪkri/.
Etymology
The term "molecular mimicry" is derived from the English words "molecule" and "mimicry". "Molecule" comes from the Latin "moles" meaning "mass" and "culus" meaning "small", while "mimicry" comes from the Greek "mimos" meaning "imitator" and "icry" meaning "action".
Related Terms
- Autoimmune disease: A condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part.
- Pathogen: An organism that causes disease.
- Immune response: The reaction of the cells and fluids of the body to the presence of a substance which is not recognized as a constituent of the body itself.
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
See Also
References
- Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21070/
- Oldstone MB. Molecular mimicry and immune-mediated diseases. FASEB J. 1998 Oct;12(13):1255-65. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.12.13.1255. PMID: 9761770.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Molecular mimicry
- Wikipedia's article - Molecular mimicry
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