In fact, it now appears that the severity of infection positively correlates with a decreased type 1 interferon (IFN1) response, but an exaggerated inflammatory response, characterised by high levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) – possibly related to excessive activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Here, IL6 is linked to infection.