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Chemosensory 'taste' cells resembling those on the tongue have been discovered growing in the lungs of mice recovering from a severe flu infection.
The discovery of these cells - also known as tuft cells - growing in lung tissue after an infection not only helps us understand the purpose of these odd little tasters, it might help explain why a single dose of influenza can compromise our health for life.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the US were curious about how lungs can repair themselves following injury from disease. Of particular interest was how the tissue structure itself seems to change post-infection.
Most of us will recover from a bad case of influenza given enough time, eventually returning to a level of health we enjoyed before we became bed-ridden for a few weeks.
The discovery of these cells - also known as tuft cells - growing in lung tissue after an infection not only helps us understand the purpose of these odd little tasters, it might help explain why a single dose of influenza can compromise our health for life.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the US were curious about how lungs can repair themselves following injury from disease. Of particular interest was how the tissue structure itself seems to change post-infection.
Most of us will recover from a bad case of influenza given enough time, eventually returning to a level of health we enjoyed before we became bed-ridden for a few weeks.
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