A minor injury, a serious infection, or even the flu can send the body down very different paths. Some people recover quickly, while others become severely ill or die. Scientists call this path a disease trajectory, and it can be shaped by many factors, including age, sex, health history, and biology.
At the Salk Institute, Janelle Ayres, PhD, has spent years studying why people respond so differently to illness and injury. Her work focuses on how the body can be guided away from disease and death and toward recovery and survival.
Inflammation and Disease Survival
Inflammation is often a major force behind the body's decline during infections and injuries. It is essential for protection because it alerts the immune system and brings immune cells to where they are needed. But when inflammation becomes excessive, it can damage tissues and contribute to death.
Because infections can trigger especially harmful inflammation, the Salk team studied mice with an infection. They found that adding the amino acid methionine to the animals' diet protected them from wasting, blood-brain barrier problems, and death linked to inflammation.
