Which gut bacteria contribute to the development or worsening of chronic inflammation? An international research team led by Dr. Lukas Mager from University Hospital Tübingen and Prof. Kathy McCoy from the University of Calgary has developed an approach to identify and selectively target such bacteria. The researchers identified two bacterial species that promote intestinal inflammation and compounds that selectively inhibit their growth. Published in the journal Gut, the study could pave the way for personalized therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.