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Chlamydia protein mimics heart muscle

The immune system may mistake a heart protein for a bacterial protein and thus attack the heart.

References:

Bachmaler, K. . . . J.M. Penninger. 1999. Chlamydia infections and heart disease linked through antigenic mimicry. Science 283(Feb. 26):1335.

Further Readings:

Fackelmann, K.A. 1997. Harbinger of a heart attack. Science News 151(June 14):374.

Seppa, N. 1999. Does tetracycline limit heart attacks? Science News 155(Feb. 6):86.

Sources:

Josef M. Penninger
Amgen Institute
Ontario Cancer Institute
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C1
Canada

From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 11, March 13, 1999, p. 174. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.

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