Studies on influenza showed a similar pattern. Mice were given beta 1,3-1,6 glucans for seven days before being exposed to flu virus. This particularly virulent strain of virus killed all of the control animals but remarkably, over half of the beta glucan-treated animals survived. (1)

Even more persuasively, beta 1,3-1,6 glucans protect pigs. The yeast extract reduces the harm done to the lungs after infection with swine flu virus, and the enhanced immune system is able to reduce replication of the virus itself.(2)

As pigs and people have a good deal in common (metabolically and physiologically speaking!), the pig model is very relevant to our own situation.

There are also a number of clinical trials where beta glucan has been shown to reduce the risk of post-operative sepsis, and which are very much in line with the animal findings.(3)

References

(1) Mandeville R   (2) Jung '04

(3) de Felipe '93, Babineau '94, Dellinger '99

Staphylococcus aureus