Through inside-out signaling, talin-1 induces a conformational change to the integrin heterodimer and increases ligand affinity while also biding to F-actin and vinculin to facilitate focal adhesion assembly and cell migration.13,15,16,18,34 Due to the involvement with the cytoskeleton, talin-1 has also been shown to contribute to pedestal formation and actin polymerization in IECs during infection by A/E pathogens in vitro.20,21 Thus, we sought to determine if talin-1 is required for bacterial colonization and pathogenesis in the C. rodentium mouse model of A/E infection-induced colitis. The gene discussed is VCL; the disease is infection.