SRP082349 PRJNA339481 Capra hircus Raw sequence reads Whether lectins of epithelial cells (ECs) contribute to the recognition of mucosal microbes and activation of the tolerogenic cytokines in gastrointestinal (GI) tract are unknown. Here, an integrated method of RNA-seq and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was applied to investigate the alteration of epithelial lectin expression and regulation with the diet-induced reconstruction of mucosal microbiota in goat rumen. Our results revealed the roles of specific membrane-bound lectins in the recognition of mucosal microbes and maintenance of epithelium tolerance in the healthy animals. Moreover, it suggested the specific microbes in the mucus layer contributed to the activation of these lectins. These results provided the new insights into the interaction between the epithelium and mucosal microbiota in the maintenance of GI homeostasis. Capra hircus