Host genetics of innate immune system in infection

The innate immune system is critical for initial recognition of infectious pathogens. Herein we highlight pathways critical to innate immunity as defined by the latest genetic findings. Several genes previously known to have recessive diseases now have dominant mutations, while other genes have both germline and somatic mutations now recognized, providing expanded phenotypes associated with each gene. Population-based variants in recognition and signaling directly impact infection susceptibility. Mutations in genes converging on STAT3 highlight signaling behind specific STAT3-related phenotypes. Novel roles for autophagy, actin cytoskeletal remodeling and DNA replication are described. Together these findings highlight both how rapidly our knowledge is advancing and how much there is still to learn about innate immunity.