Scientists studied how the immune system fights a dangerous fungal infection called sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis. They found that two immune receptors called dectin-1 and dectin-2 are crucial for fighting this infection by activating specific killer T cells and preventing immune suppression. Unlike what was previously thought, these receptors don’t work mainly by triggering inflammation, but rather by fine-tuning the balance of different immune cell types. This discovery could help develop new treatments for this emerging fungal disease.