Molecular mimicry and cross immunoreactivity in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Sir,

In a recent study, Brezovska et al., proposed for “molecular mimicry between the cross-reactive glycoproteins present in C. jejuni and human peripheral nerve and its potential role in the development of GBS following infection with C. jejuni.”[1] This conclusion is still questionable. It is no doubt that the cross immunoreactivity could be seen in the study by Brezovska et al.,[1] and this might be an important part in the pathogenesis of Guillain–Barré syndrome. However, the conclusion on molecular mimicry might not be proper. To conclude a molecular mimicry, there must be the proof for (a) the similarity between structure (secondary and tertiary) structure of the two proteins and (b) the functional similarity between the two proteins. These tests can be performed with help of bioinformatics techniques (structural and functional genomics approach).