Integrin αXβ₂ is a leukocyte receptor for Candida albicans and is essential for protection against fungal infections.

The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans is one of the leading causes of infections in immunocompromised patients, and innate immunity provides a principal mechanism for protection from the pathogen. In the present work, the role of integrin α(X)β₂ in the pathogenesis of fungal infection was assessed. Both purified α(X)β₂ and α(X)β₂-expressing human epithelial kidney 293 cells recognized and bound to the fungal hyphae of SC5314 strain of C.