There is an inherent link between infectious disease and the immune system. Beyond the immune system’s central role in fighting infection, there are mechanisms by which infections may trigger or worsen an autoimmune reaction.

The humoral immune response can be instrumental in monitoring exposure to a pathogen or assessing the effect of a vaccine. It can also be harnessed to interrogate the autoimmune response as a means of understanding the additional complexities that may occur as a consequence of infection. Antibody and autoantibody profiles can serve as valuable biomarkers to help facilitate these activities.