CLDN4 and cryptococcosis: To explore the effects of Cldn-4 and luCldn-18 deficiency on host defense against cryptococcal infection, Cldn-4-deficient mice, luCldn-18-deficient mice, and control mice for each claudin-deficient genotype were infected with C. deneoformans, and the growth of this fungal pathogen in the lungs and brains was examined.