Final answer:
Autoimmunity results from the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own cells, a type of hypersensitivity that can lead to autoimmune disorders like SLE. Molecular mimicry plays a role in the development of autoimmunity. Individual susceptibility to infections depends on various genetic and environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The result of a person's immune system overreacting to one's own cells or microbiome as if they were pathogenic is known as autoimmunity. This overreaction can lead to hypersensitivities, which are misdirected immune responses. There are different types of hypersensitivities, such as allergies, where the immune system reacts to harmless foreign substances, or more severe forms like autoimmune disorders, where the immune system mistakenly targets and damages the body's own cells due to a phenomenon known as molecular mimicry. This occurs when antibodies raised against the nucleic acid of microorganisms cross-react with similar structures in the host's own cells, potentially leading to conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Each individual's susceptibility to infections and their immune response can vary based on factors including the makeup of their microbiota, state of their immune system, genetic factors, and exposure to environmental influences that can compromise immune defenses.