LGALS9 and infection: Gal-3 levels in serum and lungs are augmented in infections by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans (76), while plasma levels of Gal-9 are higher in severe infections by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum (77), and mRNA levels of Gal-9 in the lungs of P. berghei-infected mice are also increased (78).