MUC2 and bacterial infectious disease: The aim of our study was to use the C. rodentium model of A/E bacterial infection in Muc2-sufficient (wildtype) mice and Muc2-deficient (Muc2−/−) mice to understand how A/E bacteria interact with Muc2 and the mucus layer in vivo, and for the first time to assess the role of these interactions in host defense against this important class of bacterial pathogens.