Whilst Itln1 is expressed in Paneth cells at a high level in normal mouse small intestine, infection of BALB/c mice with the small intestinal dwelling helminth Trichinella spiralis, induced de novo expression of an additional gene termed intelectin-2 (Itln2) in goblet cells, which was secreted into the mucus layer [6]. This evidence concerns the gene ITLN2 and infection.