To date, more than 240 IBD risk genes (e.g. NOD2, CARD9, ATG16L1, IRGM, TNFSF15, GPR65, IL23R, IL12B and TTC7A) have been identified and many of them are involved in the regulation of host-microbiota interactions [10–12]. This evidence concerns the gene ATG16L1 and inflammatory bowel disease.