07 Aug 2017 --- A new study has thrown further light on the far-reaching effects that gut microbes can have on the immune system, by showing that a particular gut microbe can prevent severe flu infections in mice, likely by breaking down flavonoids, the naturally occurring compounds commonly found in foods and beverages such as black tea, red wine and blueberries. This strategy is also effective in fighting off severe damage from flu when the interaction occurs prior to infection with the influenza virus, indicates the research conducted by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This work could also help to explain the wide variation in human responses to influenza infection.
