Glycans form a highly variable constituent of our mucosal surfaces and profoundly affect our susceptibility to infection and disease. The diversity and importance of these surface glycans can be seen in individuals who lack a functional copy of the fucosyltransferase gene, FUT2. Representing around one-fifth of the population, these individuals have an altered susceptibility to many bacterial and viral infections and diseases. The mediation of host–pathogen interactions by mucosal glycans, such as those added by FUT2, is poorly understood. We highlight, with specific examples, important mechanisms by which host glycans influence infection dynamics, including by: acting as pathogen receptors (or receptor-decoys), promoting microbial stability, altering the physical characteristics of mucus, and acting as immunological markers. We argue that the effect glycans have on infection dynamics has profound implications for many aspects of healthcare and policy, including clinical management, outbreak control, and vaccination policy.

聚糖构成了我们粘膜表面高度可变的成分，并深刻影响我们对感染和疾病的易感性。这些表面聚糖的多样性和重要性可以在缺乏岩藻糖基转移酶基因FUT2功能副本的个体中体现出来。这些人约占总人口的五分之一，对许多细菌和病毒感染及疾病的易感性发生了改变。人们对粘膜聚糖（例如 FUT2 添加的聚糖）介导的宿主-病原体相互作用知之甚少。我们通过具体例子强调宿主聚糖影响感染动态的重要机制，包括：充当病原体受体（或受体诱饵）、促进微生物稳定性、改变粘液的物理特性以及充当免疫标记物。我们认为，聚糖对感染动态的影响对医疗保健和政策的许多方面具有深远的影响，包括临床管理、疫情控制和疫苗接种政策。