As a result, anti-platelet and endothelial cell antibodies are produced. If this vicious cycle of inflammation continues, it can result in fibrous lesions or plaque formation. When pieces of the plaque break loose, they can start blood clots and cause heart attack. In fact, very recently, the American College of Cardiology issued a list of harmful pathogens as possible bacterial links in the disease process for heart and vascular failure. These pathogens may induce their pathologic responses through one of the above-mentioned mechanisms of action or by sharing mimicking epitope with pathogenic peptides.
Molecular mimicry is defined as structural similarity between antigens coded by different genes.
Molecular mimicry has long been implicated as a mechanism by which microbes can induce autoimmunity. The clinical importance of molecular mimicry between mycobacteria and self-antigen was highlighted by the observation that patients treated with Bacillus Calmette Guerin immunotherapy developed arthritis. Anti-DNA idiotype has also been found in the serum of patients with the parasitic infections filariasis and schistosomiasis. Also molecular mimicry has been reported between Yersinia enterocolitica and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, based on the observed cross-reaction between sera from Yersinia and Grave's patients. The cross-reaction between C. albicans and mammalian tissues was shown by electrophoresis immunodiffusion, Western blot and immunoabsorbtion assays.