A team of researchers from Cardiff University’s Systems Immunity Research Institute found that T-cells \u2013 a type of white blood cell that defends humans from germs \u2013 get activated by some types of bacteria, leading the T-cells to attack beta cells that produce insulin. Since type-1 diabetes affects children and young adults and is not directly related to a person\u2019s dietary pattern, the reasons behind the development of this disease have been unclear. The research team used Diamond Light Source, which is the UK’s synchrotron science facility, to shine powerful X-rays into the samples. They found that sometimes certain germs activate T-cells so that these cells target a person\u2019s own tissue i.e. the beta cells and destroy them, which leads to the development of type-1 diabetes. The team is hopeful that their findings will help develop new ways of detecting, diagnosing, and preventing type-1 diabetes.<\/p>\n