Both DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are organized into 3 domains: (1) an N-terminal cytoplasmic region followed by a transmembrane domain, (2) a neck-region containing a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) of a conserved 23 amino acid sequence, and (3) a C-terminal extracellular domain with a C-type carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) involved in pathogen binding [12] . While the CRD forms complicated carbohydrates with high mannose-containing ligands, the neck-region is essential for lectin tetramerization and influences the capability of CRD to interact with pathogens such as HIV-1. Because the VNTR of the neck-region in DC-SIGNR is highly polymorphic, ranging from 3 to 9 repeats in worldwide populations, the polymorphism has been widely studied with regard to host genetic predisposition to HIV-1 infection [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] . However, the results are controversial and inconclusive, most likely because of the different ethnic populations used in the different studies or lacking the statistical power in any individual study to produce a reliable conclusion. Thus, a comprehensive analysis is critical.