Tokyo: An international team led by an Indian-American scientist has identified 10 new genes associated with the autoimmune disease lupus -- a debilitating condition where the body's immune system becomes unbalanced and attacks its own tissues.

Swapan Nath, a scientist with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and colleagues analysed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood gathered from volunteers in four countries - South Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.