美国科学60秒 SSS 2012-12-18

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This is a season when becteria sinus infections run rampant¹, but some people are better able to ward² off that malady³. And they can be identified by their taste buds, because those of us who can better detect bitter flavors may also be better equipped to fight off upper respiratory tract⁴ infections. The finding is in the Journal of Clinical Investigation⁵. 

   

  It turns out that those bitter taste receptors aren’t just in our mouths. They are also in our noses. Being better able to sense bitterness may be a first line of defense⁶ against becteria. That’s because those becteria actually tastes bitter to us. So when taste receptors in our airways⁷ sense a bitter  flavor, they rolled out the defenses. 

   

  Cilia lining⁸ our sinuses beat faster, to sweep away germs. And becteria killing⁹ nitric oxide¹⁰, gets released into our nasal cavities. Better bitter sensing, means a bigger response. It’s one reason researchers at the Monell Chemical Sense Center are trying to come up with a universal taste test, a standardised measurement of how well we sense flavours. Because one key to living healthier, could be on the tip of your tongue.    

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