Although relatively rare, affecting 8% of the general population, autoimmune disorders are causative linked with chronic diseases and morbidity. Control of the course of the disease is closely dependent on the ability to monitor its onset as well as response to treatment. In the present report, we review the progress in the development of biosensor-based approaches and related tools for the Point-of-Care diagnosis and monitoring of biomarkers related to several autoimmune diseases, such as Myasthenia Gravis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Erythematosus Lupus, Crohn’s Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Behcet’s disease, Psoriasis and Celiac Disease. Various biosensing technologies are discussed, including electrochemical, optical and mechanical ones, along with the use of advanced nanomaterials and immobilization techniques for the biorecognition elements. The need for innovative devices with unique features of rapid, low-cost, real-time detection is considered in the context of preventing permanent organ and tissue damage from chronic autoimmune diseases.

Background: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease presenting with au-to-antibodies that affect the neuromuscular junction. Aside from symptomatic treatment options, novel therapeutics include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). IMGT®, the international ImMunoGe-neTics information system® (https://www.imgt.org), extends the characterization of therapeutic antibodies with a systematic description of their mechanisms of action (MOA) and makes them available through its database for mAbs and fusion proteins, IMGT/mAb-DB. Methods: Using the available literature data combined with the amino acid sequence analyses from mAbs managed in IMGT/2Dstructure-DB, the IMGT® protein database, biocuration allowed to define in a standardized way descriptions of MOA of mAbs that target molecules towards MG treatment. Results: New therapeutic targets include FcRn and molecules such as CD38, CD40, CD19, MS4A1 and interleukin-6 receptor. A standardized graphical representation of the MOA of selected mAbs was created and integrated within IMGT/mAb-DB. The main mechanisms involved in these mAbs are either blocking or neutralizing. Therapies directed to B cell depletion and plasma cells have a blocking MOA with an immunosuppressant effect along with Fc-effector function (MS4A1, CD38) or FcγRIIb engager effect (CD19). Monoclonal antibodies targeting the complement also have blocking MOA with a complement inhibitor effect and treatments targeting T cells have a blocking MOA with an immunosuppressant effect (CD40) and Fc-effector function (IL6R). On the other hand, FcRn antagonists present a neutralizing MOA with an FcRn inhibitor effect. Conclusion: The MOA of each new mAb needs to be considered in association with the immuno-pathogenesis of each of the subtypes of MG in order to integrate the new mAbs as a viable and safe option in the therapy decision process. In IMGT/mAb-DB, mAbs for MG are characterized by their sequence, domains, chains and their MOA is described.