Autoimmune disease is the result of the body's immune system targeting and attacking its own tissues in the same way that it would normally tackle infection. The tissues affected become inflamed and damaged.
The city of Venice is a major center of culture and tourism in Italy, a country in southeastern Europe. It is famous for its beautiful canals, palaces, and art. The city is built on more than 100 small islands.
For much of this period, Venice was known as the 'Queen of the Adriatic' (the sea which lies between Italy and the Dalmatian Coast of present-day Croatia) because of its strength in trade and commerce. It was also an important link between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire to the east.