Structural basis of molecular mimicry

Infectious agents are thought to play an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Sequence similarity between infectious agents and s elf-proteins (molecular mimicry) has been proposed as a mechanism for the i nduction of autoimmunity [1]. However, it has been difficult to identify mi crobial peptides that activate autoreactive T cells using conventional sequ ence alignments. This chapter reviews progress made in the identification o f such microbial peptides based on the analysis of structural features that are important for TCR recognition of MHC-bound peptides [2]. (C) 2001 Acad emic Press.