Genetic Predictors of Susceptibility to Dermatophytoses.

Countless observational studies conducted over the last century reveal that dermatophytes infect humans of every age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status with strikingly high rates. The curious disparity in dermatophyte infection patterns observed within and between populations has led countless investigators to explore whether genetics underlie a susceptibility to, or confer protection against, dermatophyte infections. This paper examines the data that offer a link between genetics and dermatophytoses and discusses the underlying mechanisms that support these observations.