CARD9 and Decreased total neutrophil count: Therefore, although the selective neutrophil killing defect against unopsonized Candida yeasts may contribute toward the development of CNS fungal disease in CARD9-deficient patients, the major contributor toward the CNS infection susceptibility of CARD9-deficient patients appears to be the lack of neutrophils in the infected CNS, thus creating a condition of “CNS-specific neutropenia.”