Hamady et al. (2010, 2011) found that the B. ovatus can prevent colitis caused by DSS in the form of improving weight loss and reducing the colon length, and downregulating the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (Hamady et al., 2010, 2011). The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is colitis.