White blood counts, levels of CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were all increased in patients with DM and oral candidiasis. Oral PMNs in these patients produced less ROS and showed impaired phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida cells. This might indicate that the neutrophil suppression plays an important role in the predisposing state of DM for opportunistic infections. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is diabetes mellitus.