Three preliminary concepts are developed: antigen presentation, "peptidic self" and superantigen. Several infectious contenders for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are then reviewed: Epstein-Barr virus, mycobacteria, parvovirus, proteus and streptococcus. Finally, the most important hypotheses are discussed: microbe present and still accessible, microbe present but hidden, microbe absent but perpetuated by the immune system. In the latest case, molecular mimicry could possibly be the mechanism operating in RA.