Particularly, CRWT infection wascharacterized by loss of key structural proteins – CLDN2, CLDN436 and their regulators such as TGM3, & FMO5 involved in mucus barrier formation and stabilization;37,38 SLC26A3, SLC5A6, and SOD3 involved in maintaining the integrity and stability of epithelial tight junction barrier39–43 and an increase in barrier-disrupting factor GABRA3.44 The changes in these markers observed in CRM12-infected cIECs were less dramatic, suggesting reduced barrier disruption (Figure 6(e)). This evidence concerns the gene CLDN2 and infection.