For instance, among all the markers that were pointed out as specifically determining EoE (Fig. 2 and Additional file 1: Fig. S1), CXCL14, a chemoattractant chemokine expressed by the epithelium, stromal cells and by monocytes (Additional file 1: Fig. S3I, 3J, 3L, and 3R), gained our attention because of its documented antimicrobial activities against pathogens [35] and its higher level in EoE compared with both control and GERD, suggesting possible EoE-specific microbial signatures different from the GERD. The gene discussed is CXCL14; the disease is gastroesophageal reflux disease.