SCOPE: Pectins have anti-inflammatory properties on intestinal immunity through direct interactions on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the small intestine or via stimulating microbiota-dependent effects in the large intestine. Both the degree of methyl-esterification (DM) and the distribution of methyl-esters (degree of blockiness; DB) of pectins contribute to this influence on immunity but whether and how the DB impacts immunity through microbiota-dependent effects in the large intestine is unknown. Therefore, we tested pectins that structurally differ in DB in a mouse model with Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis and studied the impact on the intestinal microbiota composition and associated attenuation of inflammation.METHODS AND RESULTS...