Goblet cells, key factor affecting virus infection in mucosa

Our findings show that dynamic changes in goblet cell mucus secretion strongly correlate with local mucosal infection outcomes. By increasing mucus production and expressing mucus-associated antiviral proteins, goblet cells effectively inhibit PEDV infection in the nasal mucosa and SIV infection in the intestinal mucosa. Further investigation revealed that, besides repressing mucus secretion in intestinal goblet cells, PEDV rapidly and specifically induces goblet cell associated antigen passages GAPs in piglet intestine.