It has been also reported that the induction of IBD-like colitis (and therefore relevance as a model) in the Il10-/- mouse is dependent on the background mouse strain (with C3H/HeJBir or BALB/C Il10-/- mouse being more susceptible, and C57BL/6 Il10-/- mice (the strain used in this study) being more resistant to the development of intestinal inflammation [1,19]) and the commensal bacteria to which the mice are exposed [23]. The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is colitis.