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American researchers say drinking tea may help strengthen the body's defense system against infection. Doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, did the study. The team studied a chemical found in black, green, oolong and pekoe tea. This chemical is an amino acid(°±»ùËá) called L­theanine. The scientists say it may increase  the strength of gamma delta T cells. That's the letter T, not the drink. Gamma delta T cells are part of the body's defense.

     First, the researchers mixed some of these cells with antigens (¿¹Ô­)  found in the amino acid. Antigens help the body react to infection. Then the scientists added some bacteria. Within twenty­four hours, the cells produced a lot of interferon (¸ÉÈÅËØ),  a substance that fights infection. Cells not mixed with the antigens did not produce interferon.

In the second part of the study, eleven people drank five to six cups of black tea every day. Ten other people drank the same amount of instant coffee. That is dried coffee mixed with hot water.

   Two weeks later, and again two weeks after that, the researchers tested the blood of all twenty­one people. They also looked at what happened when they added bacteria to the blood cells. They found that the tea drinkers produced five times more interferon after they started drinking tea. The coffee drinkers did not produce interferon.

      Doctor Jack Bukowski led the study. He said the antigens added to the gamma delta T cells were responsible for the increased reaction to the bacteria. He said that the study also showed that the cells were able to remember the bacteria and fight them again next time.

     Earlier research has already found that tea can help prevent heart disease and cancer. Doctor Bukowski says the new study must be repeated by  more people. “If the findings prove to be true£¬” he says, “then tea drinking might also help protect against bacterial infection.” He says the amino acid L­theanine could be removed from the tea and used as a drug to strengthen the body's defense.

1£®We may know from the text that ________ can be found in different kinds of tea.

  A£®L­theanine  B£®gamma delta T cells

 C£®interferon  D£®bacteria

2£®Tea may help strengthen the body's defense system because it helps ________.

  A£®to add some bacteria to the blood cells

  B£®the body to produce more gamma delta T cells

  C£®the body to produce more interferon

  D£®to mix antigens with some of the cells in the body

3£®According to Dr Bukowski, ________.

 A£®the findings of the study have already proved to be true

  B£®further study is needed to prove the findings true

 C£®he has taken some amino acid L­theanine from tea and made a drug with it

 D£®he is not sure whether tea can help prevent heart disease and cancer