Molecular Mimicry Drives Locally Produced Autoantibodies in Subarachnoid Neurocysticercosis

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Subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (SANCC) is caused by Taenia solium and leads to chronic meningitis with significant morbidity and mortality.
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The study investigates autoantibody production in SANCC, suggesting it may be driven by molecular mimicry with T. solium proteins.
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from SANCC patients showed significant reactivity to human proteins annexin A8 and BAP18 compared to controls.
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Autoantibodies in SANCC may cross-react with T. solium homologues, indicating a potential mechanism for local antibody production.
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The findings highlight the role of molecular mimicry in SANCC, contributing to the understanding of its pathogenesis.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

by Janitzio J Guzmán, Aissatou Bah, Sasisekhar Bennuru, Sarah Harrison, Theodore E Nash, Joshua Sciurba, Lauren Thumm, Thomas B Nutman, Elise M O’Connell
May 8, 2025

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