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International audience; Swiss cheeses have been produced for centuries in a traditional way and their typical opening indicates the presence of propionibacteria. These last are indeed present in raw milk, their growth is favored by the specific technology of Swiss-type cheeses, and their high population in the ripened cheese is responsible for its characteristic sensory properties, including the opening and the aroma. In addition to this long history of safe use and consumption, they constitute a source of nutraceuticals. The specific propionic fermentation leads to the production of short chain fatty acids as main final obligatory products. These exert beneficial effects including nourishment of digestive epithelial cells, as well as promotion of differentiation and of apoptotic depletion of colon cancer cells. Propionibacteria also produce vitamins of the B group, which enhances the nutritional value of the food products they ferment. Some selected strains were moreover shown to produce immunomodulins, proteins able to modify the secretion of cytokines in human immune cells. These last were identified as proteinaceous components of propionibacteria surface layer. They also produce extracellular vesicles which modulate in vitro inflammation and the NFκB pathway in human intestinal epithelial cells. Accordingly, such strains modulate the immune response and mitigate inflammation. In mice, they prevent both mucositis and colitis, via such immunomodulins limiting acute inflammatory response and protecting the gut epithelial barrier. In pigs, their consumption also modulates the inflammatory response and the lymphocyte populations. Finally, clinical studies dealing with consumption of propionibacteria whey cultures suggest a beneficial role in the context of IBD. Propionibacteria strains were recently identified in the gut microbiota of healthy newborns, yet not in that of children with necrotizing enterocolitis. Indeed, propionibacteria were detected in human fecal samples, which means that propionibacteria may be traditional cheese starters or next generation probiotics. The growing knowledge of these peculiar actinobacteria, including their great strain-diversity, opens new avenues for the development of functional foods and of food supplements, in a general context of increasing incidence of ailments that include an inflammatory component. Moreover, their ability to ferment both dairy and vegetable matrices is presently investigated and the first promising advances open new perspectives for the development of functional fermented vegetable products.

International audience; ContextGut inflammation constitutes a growing health concern in developed countries. It may consist in spontaneous ailments of the gut, involving both the host immune system and microbiota, such as IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It may be caused by a medical treatment, such as mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. It coincides with a dysbiosis including a lack of anti-inflammatory bacteria. As an example, propionibacteria are lacking in the microbiota of newborns that develop necrotizing enterocolitis.Methods and resultsWe thus focused on the immunomodulatory properties of GRAS propionibacteria. Selected strains of Propionibacterium freudenreichii induced the regulatory IL-10 cytokine in human immune cells (Foligné et al., 2010, 2013), depending on surface proteins (Le Marechal et al., 2015). Mutation of the slpB gene suppressed this immunomodulatory effect and the resulting slpB mutant induced a rather proinflammatory response (Deutsch et al., 2017). Consumption of wild-type P. freudenreichii protected from colitis induced by both TNBS and by DSS. It alleviated severity of symptoms, modulated local and systemic inflammation, as well as colonic oxidative stress and epithelial cell damages (Plé et al., 2015, 2016; Rabah et al., 2020). Accordingly, consumption of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 harboring pXIES-SEC:slpB and expressing the propionibacterial SlpB reduced severity of colitis, lowered weight loss, disease activity index, shortening of the colon length, and histopathological score, compared with mice treated with L. lactis NCDO 2118 wild-type strain.In the context of mucositis induced by the chemotherapy 5-FU, P. freudenreichii prevented weight loss, reduced inflammation and consequently intestinal damages. It regulated key markers, including Claudin-1 and IL-17a genes, as well as IL-12 and IL-1β cytokines levels (Cordeiro et al., 2018). Mutant strain slpB displayed opposite regulatory effect on cld1 expression and on IL-12 levels, and failed to afford protection towards 5-FU-mucositis (do Carmo et al., 2019).ConclusionThis work emphasizes the importance of SlpB in P. freudenreichii ability to reduce both mucositis and colitis inflammation. It opens perspectives for the development of probiotic products aimed at decreasing side effects of chemotherapy and at helping treatment of colitis, thanks to GRAS bacteria.ReferencesCordeiro, B. F., Oliveira, E. R., Silva, D., H, S., Savassi, B. M., Acurcio, L. B., et al. (2018). Whey Protein Isolate-Supplemented Beverage, Fermented by Lactobacillus casei BL23 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii 138, in the Prevention of Mucositis in Mice. Front. Microbiol. 9. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02035.Deutsch, S.-M., Mariadassou, M., Nicolas, P., Parayre, S., Le Guellec, R., Chuat, V., et al. (2017). Identification of proteins involved in the anti-inflammatory properties of Propionibacterium freudenreichii by means of a multi-strain study. Sci Rep 7, 46409. doi:10.1038/srep46409.do Carmo, F. L. R., Rabah, H., Cordeiro, B. F., da Silva, S. H., Pessoa, R. M., Fernandes, S. O. A., et al. (2019). Probiotic Propionibacterium freudenreichii requires SlpB protein to mitigate mucositis induced by chemotherapy. Oncotarget 10, 7198–7219. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.27319.Foligné, B., Breton, J., Mater, D., and Jan, G. (2013). Tracking the microbiome functionality: focus on Propionibacterium species. Gut 62, 1227–1228.Foligné, B., Deutsch, S. M., Breton, J., Cousin, F. J., Dewulf, J., Samson, M., et al. (2010). Promising immunomodulatory effects of selected strains of dairy propionibacteria as evidenced in vitro and in vivo. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 76, 8259–8264.Le Marechal, C., Peton, V., Ple, C., Vroland, C., Jardin, J., Briard-Bion, V., et al. (2015). Surface proteins of Propionibacterium freudenreichii are involved in its anti-inflammatory properties. J.Proteomics. 113C, 447–461.Plé, C., Breton, J., Richoux, R., Nurdin, M., Deutsch, S.-M., Falentin, H., et al. (2016). Combining selected immunomodulatory Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Lactobacillus delbrueckii strains: Reverse engineering development of an anti-inflammatory cheese. Mol Nutr Food Res 60, 935–948. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201500580.Plé, C., Richoux, R., Jardin, J., Nurdin, M., Briard-Bion, V., Parayre, S., et al. (2015). Single-strain starter experimental cheese reveals anti-inflammatory effect of Propionibacterium freudenreichii CIRM BIA 129 in TNBS-colitis model. Journal of Functional Foods 18, 575–585. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2015.08.015.Rabah, H., do Carmo, F. L. R., Carvalho, R. D. de O., Cordeiro, B. F., da Silva, S. H., Oliveira, E. R., et al. (2020). Beneficial Propionibacteria within a Probiotic Emmental Cheese: Impact on Dextran Sodium Sulphate-Induced Colitis in Mice. Microorganisms 8, 380. doi:10.3390/microorganisms8030380.- PF induces IL-10 in human PBMCs- Surface layer extraction reduces IL-10 induction- Extracted surface layer induces IL-10- Mutation of the SlpB gene reduces IL-10 induction- PF prevents colitis- PF prevents mucositis- PF slpB mutant does not prevent mucositis- Lactococcus lactis expressing SlpB prevents colitis

Introduction Intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) integrity plays a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There is a growing interest in dietary compounds that can strengthen IEB. First, candidate strains of dairy propionic bacteria such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii are able to reduce inflammation and improve barrier strength. Knowing that certain products of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA) metabolism also reinforce IEB, and that bacteria can modulate the bioavailability of host lipid compounds, this project aims to identify strains of P. freudenreichii that could protect against colitis by strengthening IEB and increasing the bioavailability of certain n-6 PUFA. MethodsA screening of thirty-three strains of P. freudenreichii was performed based on the following criteria: 1) characterization of the ability to induce production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) by stimulation of human PBMCs 2) identification of surface proteins (S-layer protein) responsible for anti-inflammatory properties 3) measurement of their ability to increase the bioavailability of certain n-6 PUFAs, such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). The ability of the selected fermented products to prevent the inflammation-induced increase in permeability of an IEB was then studied. ResultsAll strains are able to induce IL-10 production and release CLAs. Ten strains show an anti-inflammatory S-layer profile. Some fermented products significantly prevent the inflammation-induced increase in permeability, and may involve surface proteins and bioactive lipids. DiscussionThese results will allow the selection of strains with anti-inflammatory as well as pro-repair potential to be tested in vivo to reduce colitis, with or without n-6 PUFA supplementation.

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is a probiotic Gram-positive bacterium with promising immunomodulatory properties. It modulates regulatory cytokines, mitigates the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo These properties were initially attributed to specific bacterial surface proteins. Recently, we showed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA129 mimic the immunomodulatory features of parent cells in vitro (i.e. modulating NF-κB transcription factor activity and IL-8 release) which underlies the role of EVs as mediators of the probiotic effects of the bacterium. The modulation of EV properties, and particularly of those with potential therapeutic applications such as the EVs produced by the probiotic P. freudenreichii, is one of the challenges in the field to achieve efficient yields with the desired optimal functionality. Here we evaluated whether the culture medium in which the bacteria are grown could be used as a lever to modulate the protein content and hence the properties of P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA129 EVs. The physical, biochemical and functional properties of EVs produced from cells cultivated on laboratory Yeast Extract Lactate (YEL) medium and cow milk ultrafiltrate (UF) medium were compared. UF-derived EVs were more abundant, smaller in diameter and displayed more intense anti-inflammatory activity than YEL-derived EVs. Furthermore, the growth media modulated EV content in terms of both the identities and abundances of their protein cargos, suggesting different patterns of interaction with the host. Proteins involved in amino acid metabolism and central carbon metabolism were modulated, as were the key surface proteins mediating host-propionibacteria interactions.Importance Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cellular membrane-derived nanosized particles that are produced by most cells in all three kingdoms of life. They play a pivotal role in cell-cell communication through their ability to transport bioactive molecules from donor to recipient cells. Bacterial EVs are important factors in host-microbe interactions. Recently we have shown that EVs produced by the probiotic P. freudenreichii exhibited immunomodulatory properties. We evaluate here the impact of environmental conditions, notably culture media, on P. freudenreichii EV production and function. We show that EVs display considerable differences in protein cargo and immunomodulation depending on the culture medium used. This work offers new perspectives for the development of probiotic EV-based molecular delivery systems, and reinforces the optimization of growth conditions as a tool to modulate the potential therapeutic applications of EVs.

The role of Propionibacterium freudenreichii in mitigating inflammation has been a subject of study for many years. Lately, it has been shown that immunomodulation properties are strain- specific and that the major responsible for inflammatory modulation ofimmunomodulation by strain CIRM-BIA129 is the presence of the surface layer protein B (SlpB), which has presented immunomodulation even when expressed in other bacteria. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized spherical structures, produced by organisms of all kingdoms, including bacteria. They have been associated with inter-organism communication, pathogenesis, competition, and immunomodulation. Recent studies were aiming to address the role of EVs, in the probiotic effects of bacteria. The properties of P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA129- derived EVs have been investigated. EVs produced by CIRM-BIA129 cultured in milk ultrafiltrate medium (UF) have been characterized by regarding size and morphology. UF-derived EVs displayed a monodisperse pattern with a modal size of 84.80 ± 2.34 nm. They are composed of a wide variety of proteins, mainly involved in metabolic processes, cellular processes and signaling, and storage and processing of information. A, among these proteins, SlpB was found in high abundance. P. freudenreichii EVs were able to inhibit, in a dose dependent manner, the increase of IL-8 production in HT-29 cells induced with LPS, due to NF-KB pathway inhibition, without causing cell cytotoxicity. EVs produced by a CIRM-BIA129 mutant strain with a knockout for SlpB showed a less efficient reduction in IL-8 production. Results have shown that the environmental conditions are able to modify EVs content and, consequently, their immunomodulatory effects. A change in the growth medium, from UF to YEL (yeast extract-lactate) showed a lower production of EVs, with a slightly larger size. EVs produced in YEL did not perform as well in the inhibition of the NF-KB pathway and had no effect on IL-8 production. Recent results have shown that P. freudenreichii EVs were able to protect Caco-2 cells from inflammation-induced excessive increasing permeability. These Altogether, these results show that Evs produced by beneficial propionibacteria are able to generate immunomodulationtrigger immunomodulation, similar to the parental strain. As for the SlpB role in EVs immunomodulation

The aim of LOCALNUTLEG project is to empower local Mediterranean nuts and legumes with quality characteristics that depend exclusively on the territory on which they are produced through the development of nniovative plant-based food products, fermented or not. To do so, LOCALNUTLEG will promote local Mediterranean nuts and legumes with a legal registered trademark (Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)) or autochthonous identity and will represent a potential opportunity to Mediterranean countries to balance the sustainability of Agri-food resources and dietary habits considering the economical and health impact of the new developed products. The project aims to develop innovative food products by the identification of local nut and legumes varieties tied to Mediterranean gastronomic culture, providing the maximum amount of nutrients and bioactive compounds, and to promote Mediterranean diet through plant-based food products., Le but de LOCALNUTLEG est d’autonomiser des filières locales méditerranéennes de produits végétaux, fermentés ou non, sous signe de qualité géographique ou avec une identité locale forte. Pour cela le projet développera des produits alimentaires innovants à partir des variétés locales de fruits secs et légumes secs liés à la culture gastronomique méditerranéennes, riches en nutriments et composés bioactifs. Ces produits seront une opportunité de conjuguer la durabilité des matières premières agricoles locales et des habitudes alimentaires pour des produits sains et contribuant à l’économie locale.

International audience; IntroductionGut inflammation constitutes a growing health concern in developed countries. It may consist in spontaneous ailments of the gut, involving both the host immune system and microbiota, such as IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It may be caused by a medical treatment, such as mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. It coincides with a dysbiosis including a lack of anti-inflammatory bacteria. As an example, propionibacteria are lacking in the microbiota of newborns that develop necrotizing enterocolitis.Methods Dairy propionibacteria strains were tested in vitro on human PBMCs with respect to their ability to induce immunomodulatory cytokines. Selected strains were then tested in vitro with respect to their ability to protect mice from TNBS-induced colitis, from DSS-induced colitis, and from 5FU-induced mucositis.ResultsWe thus focused on the immunomodulatory properties of GRAS propionibacteria. Selected strains of Propionibacterium freudenreichii induced the regulatory IL-10 cytokine in human immune cells (Foligné et al., 2010, 2013), depending on surface proteins (Le Marechal et al., 2015). Mutation of the slpB gene suppressed this immunomodulatory effect and the resulting slpB mutant induced a rather proinflammatory response (Deutsch et al., 2017). Consumption of wild-type P. freudenreichii protected from colitis induced by both TNBS and by DSS. It alleviated severity of symptoms, modulated local and systemic inflammation, as well as colonic oxidative stress and epithelial cell damages (Plé et al., 2015, 2016; Rabah et al., 2020). Accordingly, consumption of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 harboring pXIES-SEC:slpB and expressing the propionibacterial SlpB reduced severity of colitis, lowered weight loss, disease activity index, shortening of the colon length, and histopathological score, compared with mice treated with L. lactis NCDO 2118 wild-type strain (Belo et al., 2021).In the context of mucositis induced by the chemotherapy 5-FU, P. freudenreichii prevented weight loss, reduced inflammation and consequently intestinal damages. It regulated key markers, including Claudin-1 and IL-17a genes, as well as IL-12 and IL-1β cytokines levels (Cordeiro et al., 2018). Mutant strain slpB displayed opposite regulatory effect on cld1 expression and on IL-12 levels, and failed to afford protection towards 5-FU-mucositis (do Carmo et al., 2019).P. freudenreichii was further shown to produce extracellular vesicles (EVs), which mimic the immunomodulatory features of propionibacteria in vitro by modulating NF-κB transcription factor activity and IL-8 release in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells (Rodovalho et al., 2020). Proteomic analysis revealed presence of SlpB in these EVs.DiscussionThis work emphasizes the importance of SlpB in P. freudenreichii ability to reduce both mucositis and colitis inflammation. It opens perspectives for the development of probiotic products aimed at decreasing side effects of chemotherapy and at helping treatment of colitis, thanks to GRAS bacteria.

In a general context of food transition, plant-based fermented products experience a considerable development. This results from evolution of consumers’ habits, demanding healthy products with a low environmental impact. This requires research and development, and thus higher scientific knowledge. Fermented soy milks constitute a favorable alternative source of live probiotics. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii are extensively used in probiotic dairy products. Their adaptation to the dairy environment has been extensively studied and documented. However, little is known about their adaptation to the soy environment. We investigated suitability of soymilk as a substratefor growth and acidification by Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIRM-BIA1592 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii CIRM-BIA129. A specific focus was made on changes in term of proteome composition, cellular morphology in comparison with the cultivation in cow milk. In order to understand such adaptation, we explored their growth and survival in soy milk ultrafiltrate and compared it to cow’s milk ultrafiltrate. The two species grew in cow milk,yet not in soy milk. P. freudenreichii did grow in soy milk when co-cultured with the lactic acid bacterium L. plantarum while L. delbrueckii did not, even in co-culture with S. thermophilus. Our results revealed major differences in bacterial morphology and proteome composition. Lactobacilli upregulated stress proteins, and downregulated cell cycle and division machinery. Regarding propionibacteria, differential expression of proteins involved in amino acid metabolism, in carbohydrate metabolism, and in stress remediation was observed. These results suggest that changing the fermented substrate may significantly affect both technological and probiotic properties of conventional dairy starters. This should be considered for the development of new fermented functional foods. Screening of a large collection of lactic and propionic acid bacteria is in progress, based on their technological and probiotic properties. Bacterial stains and consortia thereof will be selected for the production of new plant-based fermented functional foods

International audience; L’intégrité de la barrière épithéliale intestinale (BEI) joue un rôle central dans la pathogenèse des maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l’intestin (MICI). Un intérêt grandissant est porté aux composés alimentaires capables de renforcer ou de restaurer la BEI. C’est le cas de souches de Propionibacterium freudenreichii, une bactérie propionique laitière, capable de restaurer la BEI fragilisée dans un contexte inflammatoire. Egalement, il existe une protection locale de la BEI exercée par les produits du métabolisme des acides gras polyinsaturés oméga-6 (AGPI n-6) par les cellules intestinales. Les omégas 6 sont apportés par l’alimentation, dont le lait. Les enzymes de leur métabolisme sont sous-exprimés chez les patients atteints de MICI, empêchant l’action bénéfique d’une supplémentation en AGPI n-6 chez ces patients. L’augmentation de la biodisponibilité des dérivés AGPI n-6 reste une piste intéressante. Par ailleurs, certaines souches de P. freudenreichii, sont capables de convertir l’acide linoléique, un AGPI n-6, en acide linoléique conjugué (ALC), capable de prévenir des colites induites chez des souris. Ces souches pourraient donc moduler la biodisponibilité et le métabolisme des AGPI n-6. Notre objectif vise à rechercher des effets additifs voire synergiques entre l’effet de 1) P. freudenreichii et 2) des AGPI n-6 sur la BEI. Un criblage de trente-trois souches de P. freudenreichii a été réalisé basé sur les critères suivants : 1) caractérisation de la capacité à induire la production de cytokines anti-inflammatoire (IL-10) par stimulation de PBMCs humaines 2) identification de protéines de surface (S-layer protein) responsable des propriétés anti-inflammatoire par une technique de rasage enzymatique suivis d’une identification par MS/MS 3) mesure de l’activité lipolytique dans la matière grasse laitière et de la conversion de l’acide linoléique en ALC avec une identification des lipides par GC-MS. Toutes les souches sont capables d’induire la production d’IL-10. Seulement, la puissance d’induction d’IL-10 est souche dépendante. Sur les trente-trois souches, dix présentent un profil S-layer anti-inflammatoire. Toutes les souches sont capables de lipolyser la matière grasse laitière, certaines produisent de l’acide linoléique. Toutes les souches exceptées une, sont capable de convertir l’acide linoléique en ALC. De façon similaire aux profils des cytokines, la production d’ALC est souche dépendante. Ces résultats apportent de nouvelles connaissances sur P. freudenreichii, et vont permettre sélectionner des souches qui, ayant un potentiel anti-inflammatoire ainsi que pro-réparateur, seront testées in vivo pour réduire la colite, avec ou sans supplémentation en AGPI n-6.

International audience; Introduction and Aims. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis (UC), coincide with alterations in the gut microbiota. Consumption of immunomodulatory strains of probiotic bacteria may induce or prolong remission in UC patients. Fermented foods, including cheeses, constitute major vectors for bacteria consumption. New evidences revealed anti-inflammatory effects of selected strains within the species P.freudenreichii, S.thermophilus and L.delbrueckii. We thus hypothesized that consumption of a functional cheese, fermented by selected strains of these three species, may exert a positive effect on IBD.Methods. Strains of each bacterial species were screened based on the ability to induce regulatory IL-10 in human immune PBMC cells, or to downregulate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation in a cultured HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cell line. We then investigated the effect of monostrain experimental cheese. We further investigated the impact two-strains experimental cheese. Finally, we produced in industrial conditions an Emmental cheese using one selected strain of each of the three species, i.e. P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA 129 in combination with Lactobacillus delbrueckii CNRZ327 and Streptococcus thermophilus LMD-9. Consumption of all cheeses was investigated with respect to prevention of chemically induced colitis in mice.Results. Consumption of the experimental cheeses, or of the industrial Emmental, reduced the severity of subsequent chemically induced colitis, weight loss, disease activity index and histological score, in mice. Furtherrmore, consumption of the Emmental cheese, in a preventive way, reduced small bowel Immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion, restored occludin gene expression and prevented induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα), Interferon γ (IFNγ) and Interleukin-17 (IL-17).Conclusion. Assembling immunomodulatory strains of both lactic acid and propionic acid starter bacteria leads to an anti-inflammatory Emmental cheese, as revealed in vivo. This opens new perspectives for the development of functional fermented food products for personalised nutrition in the context of IBD.

International audience; Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) constitute disturbances of gastrointestinal tract that cause irreversible changes in the structure and function of tissues. Ulcerative colitis (UC), the most frequent IBD in the population, is characterized by prominent inflammation of the human colon. Functional foods containing probiotic bacteria have been studied as adjuvants to the treatment or prevention of IBDs. The selected probiotic strain Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 (L. lactis NCDO 2118) exhibits immunomodulatory effects, with promising results in UC mouse model induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Additionally, cheese is a dairy food that presents high nutritional value, besides being a good delivery system that can be used to improve survival and enhance the therapeutic effects of probiotic bacteria in the host. Therefore, this work investigated the probiotic therapeutic effects of an experimental Minas Frescal cheese containing L. lactis NCDO 2118 in DSS-induced colitis in mice. During colitis induction, mice that consumed the probiotic cheese exhibited reduced in the severity of colitis, with attenuated weight loss, lower disease activity index, limited shortening of the colon length, and reduced histopathological score. Moreover, probiotic cheese administration increased gene expression of tight junctions’ proteins zo-1, zo-2, ocln, and cln-1 in the colon and increase IL-10 release in the spleen and lymph nodes. In this way, this work demonstrates that consumption of probiotic Minas Frescal cheese, containing L. lactis NCDO 2118, prevents the inflammatory process during DSS-induced colitis in mice, opening perspectives for the development of new probiotic functional foods for personalized nutrition in the context of IBD.