This was especially true for EAEC infection; (vi) that EAEC associated with enteroid mucus on the apical surface (which was dependent on AafA), especially MUC2-positive areas, but that there was substantial association with the cell surface that lacked Muc staining; and, finally, that (vii) this association with the enteroid surface occurs through the selective binding of heparan sulfated proteoglycans (HSPGs), which, the data suggests, is the receptor for AafA. Here, CD44 is linked to infection.