WNT2 and infection: In fact, the Salmonella effector protein AvrA has been shown to affect β-catenin stability because infection of CEC with the Salmonella strain SL1344 Phopc mutant that produces AvrA protein caused β-catenin stabilization, Wnt2/Wnt11 increased expression, and IL-6, IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα decreased expression [11, 12].