Searching for inherited immune defects in anticryptococcal responses in the context of profound acquired CD4 T-cell depletion might seem paradoxical: yet given only a minority of patients with HIV/AIDS develop disseminated cryptococcosis despite presumed ubiquitous exposure, such an approach has the potential to highlight the contribution of other factors, including the central role of macrophage phagocytosis and killing [41]. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is AIDS.