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Jean-Laurent Casanova^a,b and Laurent Abel^a,b

^a J.-L.C. is at the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, University of Paris René Descartes-INSERM U550, Necker Medical School, and Pediatric Hematology-Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, 75015 Paris, France.
^b L.A. is at the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, University of Paris René Descartes-INSERM U550, Necker Medical School, 75015 Paris, France.

CORRESPONDENCE J.-L.C.: casanova{at}necker.fr

Abstract
The immune system's function is to protect against microorganisms, but infection is nonetheless the most frequent cause of death in human history. Until the last century, life expectancy was only 25 years. Recent increases in human life span primarily reflect the development of hygiene, vaccines, and anti-infectious drugs, rather than the adjustment of our immune system to coevolving microbes by natural selection. We argue here that most individuals retain a natural vulnerability to infectious diseases, reflecting a great diversity of inborn errors of immunity.

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