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Background Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major cause of critical illness in immunocompromised (IC) patients. However, current fungal testing methods have significant limitations and there is a clear need for new diagnostic options. Disease-specific gene expression patterns in circulating host cells show promise as novel diagnostics; however, it is unknown whether such a" signature" exists for IA. Additionally, there is a need for better understanding of the effect of iatrogenic immunosuppression (present in most cases of IA) on such host response-driven biomarkers. Methods Male BALB/c mice were separated into an Aspergillus fumigatus inhalational exposure group and a placebo group. These two groups were each subdivided into three additional sets based on immunocompromised status (no immunosuppression, cyclophosphamide, and corticosteroids) for a total of six experimental groups. Mice were …