Role of glycans in microbiota homeostasis
Glycans decorate all cell surfaces, such as mucin glycans and proteoglycans on host epithelial cells or capsular polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, or glycoproteins on bacterial cells131,132. The glycocalyx (combined coat of glycans on the host cell surfaces, acting as a protective barrier between the epithelial layer and mucus layer) is essential in mediating immune responses in the gut by separating epithelial cells from the microbiota (Fig. 1A)133.