Abstract
Epidemiological studies on the associations between ABO blood group antigens, secretor status and susceptibility to infectious agents are summarized. Evidence for association of non-secretion with some autoimmune diseases for which infectious aetiologies have been proposed is also given. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain the host-parasite interactions underlying the epidemiological observations, and evidence to support or refute them is presented.
MeSH terms
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ABO Blood-Group System / genetics
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ABO Blood-Group System / immunology*
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Autoimmune Diseases / blood
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Autoimmune Diseases / epidemiology
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Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
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Biomarkers
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Epidemiologic Factors
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Humans
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Infections / blood
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Infections / epidemiology
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Infections / immunology
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Lewis Blood Group Antigens / genetics
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Lewis Blood Group Antigens / immunology
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Models, Biological
Substances
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ABO Blood-Group System
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Biomarkers
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Lewis Blood Group Antigens