Resveratrol supplementation reduces oxidative stress and modulates the immune response in free-living animals during a viral infection

1. Diet quality may have an important effect on the regulation of oxidative status and the immune system during an infectious disease. However, the relationship among intake of specific dietary molecules, an individual’s oxidative status and the occurrence and progress of a viral disease remains almost unexplored in free-living organisms. 2. Here, we study a wild, long-lived animal, the Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens to investigate: i) the differences in a number of physiological traits (biomarkers of blood oxidative status, corticosterone (CORT), immunity, and inflammation) between sick and healthy nestlings; and ii) whether experimentally increased intake of resveratrol (a polyphenol with antioxidant and antiviral properties) affects these physiological markers during the progress of a severe viral disease. 3. Birds with visible clinical signs showed higher oxidative damage, hemolysis and hemagglutination scores, and lower antioxidant defenses in comparison to birds with...