Using both the IL-36γ and the IL-36Ra knock-out mice, these authors demonstrate that, in the absence of IL-36γ signalling, the incidence of colon tumorigenesis was reduced in the AOM/DSS, AOM/Vil-Cre;Trp53fl/fl and ApcMin/+ models of colon cancer. The gene discussed is VIL1; the disease is infectious otitis media.