Gut Immunity (VIDEO) Walter and Eliza Hall Institute This video is under embargo. Please login to access this video. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Caption A new study from researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia, has revealed how the gut's protective mechanisms ramp up significantly with food intake, and at times of the day when mealtimes are anticipated based on regular eating habits. Eating causes a hormone called VIP to be released by nerves in the intestine, kickstarting the activity of immune cells in response to potentially incoming pathogens or 'bad' bacteria. This video shows the nerve network (red) inside the small intestine secreting VIP (green) around a group of immune cells (blue). Credit Cyril Seillet/Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Usage Restrictions Only to be used in stories related to the published research. Credit must be included License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.