Professor and Chair Satya dandekar of the Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, revealed her team's findings of the effect that low levels of cytomegalovirus have on microbe and immune cell populations and their response to the influenza vaccine. 

"Subclinical CMV infection alters the immune system and the gut microbiota in the host and that impacts how we respond to vaccines, environmental stimuli and pathogens" said Professor Dandekar.

"This study highlights the role of these silent, latent viral infections that are totally asymptomatic" she added.

Carole Gan's full article from UC Davis Health Newsroom can be found here.

The publication can be found here.