UF's Thomas Clanton has demonstrated that skeletal muscles play an important role in immunity. Clanton and his team knocked out a protein in the skeletal muscles of mice that is essential for signaling. The knockout mice had a reduced immune response to septic shock.

This study is the first of its kind and allows scientists to understand the importance of skeletal muscles in the body’s ability to fight infection. Orlando Laitano, study team member, said, “This may also help us to understand why physical fitness is so critical in successfully surviving septic shock in humans.”

• Thomas Clanton