US researchers have identified a cluster of nose and throat bacteria that made their hosts less likely to get flu. The researchers from the University of Michigan (UM) looked at samples of nose and throat bacteria and used DNA sequencing to identify which bacteria were present. Analysing the bacterial composition across all samples they found five clusters. After taking into account other known factors that could affect an individual's susceptibility to influenza such as age exposure to tobacco crowded household and flu vaccination the researchers then looked to see if individuals with a given cluster were less likely to get
