title: Vitamin D binding protein polymorphism protects against development of blastomycosis.
abstract: Blastomycosis is an uncommon endemic fungal infection. It is presumed that in the endemic regions, the number of exposed individuals is significantly greater than those in whom clinical manifestations develop. We conducted a case-control study of individuals with clinical blastomycosis and controls with similar exposure but who did not develop disease. A genetic association was observed between the Gc-2 allele of vitamin D binding protein and reduced susceptibility to blastomycosis in a Canadian cohort. The Gc-2 allele can affect increased antimicrobial activity of macrophages. It may be possible to mimic this mechanism of protection by vitamin D supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sainsbury
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trajtman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Stalker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Embil
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Electronic address: keynany@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keynan
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002170:Canada; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein
keywords: Blastomyces dermatitidis; Blastomycose; Blastomycosis; Nucleotide polymorphism; Polymorphisme nucléotidique; Protéine de liaison de la vitamine D; Vitamin D binding protein