Why illness might leave a bitter taste in the mouth

Nature: Molecule that triggers inflammation also seems to influence how mice sense bitter flavours. People who are ill often complain of changes in their sense of taste. Now, researchers report that this sensory shift may be caused by a protein that triggers inflammation. Mice that cannot produce the protein, called tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), are less sensitive to bitter flavours than normal mice, according to a study published on 21 April in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.