IL1B and infection: Given the essential role for cytokine-mediated inflammation and the evidence for IL-1α and IL-1β induction in response to C. neoformans, we hypothesized that the contribution of IL-1R-dependent signaling to host defense may have been underestimated by infection of WT and IL-1R−/− mice on the susceptible C57BL/6 genetic background with a highly virulent C. neoformans strain.