The present invention is directed to a recombinant E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) cell transformed with a nucleic acid coding for a defensin protein or a derivative thereof. The invention is further directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising this cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as well as a method of producing a recombinant E. coli Nissle 1917 cell and its use in the treatment of Crohns disease.