Bacteria that live in our mouths and intestines can 'disarm' the proteins that trigger allergic reactions to peanuts, a new study has found. Giving people with severe peanut allergies a hefty boost of these microbes could potentially help them cope better with exposure – but that's still a long way off. A team led by scientists from the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain and McMaster University in Canada has identified two microbes – Rothia and Staphylococcus – with this unique ability.