Loading...
The innate immune response to fungal infections depends on specific receptors in the mammalian host, including the C-type lectin receptors dectin-1, dectin-2, dectin-3, and mannose receptors, which recognize molecules such as β-glucan and fungal mannans. All depend on activation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), which results in transcriptional changes that activate fungicidal pathways. The E3 ubiquitin ligase CBLB down-regulates SYK. Although not previously described, a deficiency of CBLB might result in increased resistance to fungal infection. To explore this concept, investigators developed a mouse model lacking both genes for CBLB. Compared with their wildtype littermates, mice without this gene had a lower fungal burden and increased s…