Infection with Neisseria meningitidis induces a high expression of Gal-3 in spleens of infected mice and in humans with meningococcal infection [33], and both Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis (the leading causes of neonate candidiasis) upregulate the secretion of Gal-3 in human gingival epithelial cells [34] and neutrophils [35]. Here, LGALS3 is linked to meningococcal infection.