In new research, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) show that at least in the case of systemic lupus erythematosus, biofilms also have the potential to aggravate autoimmunity. The research, published in the November print edition of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, is the first to show that components of biofilms that form in the urinary tract can serve as an autoimmune trigger, inciting flare ups of lupus symptoms. Such flare ups, or flares, are a major cause of illness, hospitalization, and death among lupus patients.