WHAT IS THE COST OF INFECTION? EXAMINING THE ROLE OF MACRO- AND MICRONUTRIENTS IN SHAPING INFECTION COSTS

Eating the right foods is essential for long-term health. Researchers have found that restricting food intake can help laboratory animals live longer, but this can also lead to frailty. It is not yet clear if limiting nutrients can help animals live longer when exposed to environmental hazards. My research looked at how reducing food intake affects fruit flies when they are exposed stressful events such as an infection. I found that although reducing food intake may help them live longer in protected environments, it weakens their ability to fight off an infection.