Collectively, these pathways cooperate to regulate transcriptional and translational initiation in response to a wide variety of environmental stress stimuli, including infection.49, 50 Patients with AE have an increased susceptibility to both disseminated viral (eczema herpeticum) and bacterial skin infections,51 and the risk of both is increased in FLG-deficient subjects.52 This evidence concerns the gene FLG and infection.