Dhaka, July 7 -- Antibiotics can leave the lung vulnerable to flu viruses, leading to significantly worse infections and symptoms, according to a study, reports The Indian Exress.

The research, published in the journal Cell Reports, discovered that signals from gut bacteria help to maintain a first line of defence in the lining of the lung.

When mice with healthy gut bacteria were infected with the flu, around 80 per cent of them survived. However, only a third survived if they were given antibiotics before being infected.

"We found that antibiotics can wipe out early flu resistance, adding further evidence that they should not be taken or prescribed lightly," Andreas Wack, who led the research at Francis Crick Institute in the UK.

"I...