The study, from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed 40 newborn babies who had lost at least 5% of their birth weight by the time they were 36 hours old.

CNN: How formula could increase breast-feeding rates

The team, from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF), claim they have found five new proteins - and their corresponding genes, which could act as targets for a fightback from the body's own immune system.

BBC: Find boosts cancer vaccine hopes