Infections o There has been continuing interest in the possibility that infectious agents might initiate or flare SLE o Mechanism might include molecular mimicry between external Ag and a self-Ag, epitope spreading nonspecific activation of t or b cells There has been recent interest in eb. cmv and other VIrusInfections  There has been continuing interest in the possibility that infectious agents might initiate or flare SLE.  Mechanism might include molecular mimicry between external Ag and a self-Ag, epitope spreading, nonspecific activation of T or B cells.  There has been recent interest in EB, CMV and other virus