Thus, our results point in the same direction as the findings by other groups demonstrating, a microbiota-shaping potential of the Nod2-gene[63], alterations in IBD-risk-gene carriers in the healthy population [64], altered microbiota in siblings of CD patients [65] similar microbial alterations in inflamed and non-inflamed mucosal compartments [32] and therefore indicate a causative role of microbial alterations in IBD pathogenesis. Here, NOD2 is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.