This marked inflammatory response manifests itself clinically, with fever, lymphadenopathy, and meningism due to raised ICP; microbiologically, with high protein levels and CSF white cell counts including polymorphonuclear cells; neuroradiologically, with extensive abnormal contrast enhancement; and histologically, with granulomas composed mainly of macrophages (containing inert cryptococci) and high levels of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes [10, 25–28]. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is infectious meningitis.