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Nature Genetics 40, 686–688 (1 June 2008) | doi:10.1038/ng0608-686

New susceptibility genes for ulcerative colitis

Patrick C Dubois & David A van Heel

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprise two clinically defined conditions, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In both, chronic intestinal inflammation occurs in the absence of clearly identified microbial pathogens, although the presence of commensal microflora seems essential for disease development.