Figure 7. Model of how a fiber-deprived gut microbiota mediates degradation of the colonic mucus barrier and heighted pathogen susceptibility.

Schemes derived from results shown in Figs. 1–6 illustrating the balance between fiber degradation and mucus degradation in FR diet-fed mice; whereas an FF diet leads to proliferation of mucus-degrading bacteria and microbiota-mediated degradation of the colonic mucus layer. The latter results in more severe colitis by C. rodentium.