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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

A case of ‘stomach flu’ arms the microbiome against invaders

Gut-wrenching infection encourages production of an amino acid consumed by helpful bacteria.
Light micrograph of a normal human colon in the large intestine.

The large intestine. Infection ‘trains’ both the digestive system and the gut microbiome to fend off hostile microorganisms. Credit: Nigel Downer/SPL

Some intestinal illnesses might be a blessing in disguise. A study in mice shows that bowel infections can help gut-dwelling microbes to fight off pathogens.

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Nature 589, 332 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00078-z

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