LAUSR

Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail, is predominantly caused by dermatophytes1. Our understanding of the pathogenic response to these fungi and their ability to establish chronic infection and evade immune clearance remains limited2. Evidence suggests an association between onychomycosis and immunosuppression3 but the nail plate represents a site of infection with negligible adaptive immune cell presence; the host response here led largely by components of the innate immune system4 including antimicrobial peptides (AMP). AMP are a cornerstone of innate host defence4, but their role in onychomycosis, is poorly understood. This study is the first detailed investigation of associations between innate immune defence gene expression and onychomycosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.