Experts in microbiology and autoimmunity examine the association between microorganisms and the development of specific categories of autoimmune diseases. The opening chapters explore the bacterial induction of diseases considered autoimmune in nature. Subsequent chapters describe the role of viruses in the induction of these diseases and of diseases with an autoimmune component. Specific topics include: the role of streptococcal infection in rheumatic fever and the role of Klebsiella in the development of ankylosing spondylitis.