In an animal model study, Jacouton et al. showed that L. casei strain BL23 prevents the development of colorectal cancer, as it has immunomodulatory properties (reduces anti-inflammatory interleukin-IL-22) and has an antiproliferative effect by regulating caspases (7 and 9) and the pro-apoptotic protein Bik. The gene discussed is BIK; the disease is colorectal cancer.