NIH Record - National Institutes of Health

Severe Covid-19 May Lead to Long-Term Innate Immune System Changes

Severe Covid-19 may cause long-lasting alterations to the innate immune system, the first line of defense against pathogens, according to a small study funded by NIAID. These changes may help explain why the disease can damage so many different organs and why some people with long Covid have high levels of inflammation throughout the body. The findings were published online in the journal Cell.

Researchers Study New Contributor to Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can cause pain, infection and tooth loss. Bacteria that convert sugar to acid—and that can thrive in an acidic environment—are a major driver of tooth decay. An NIH-funded research team identified oral bacteria species found in the mouths of more than 400 children.

Researchers Show How Tumor’s Location, Environment Affect Its Identity

Using 3-D models of ovarian cancer tumors, scientists found differences in gene activity based on where a cell is in a tumor, demonstrating how a cell’s location and environment in a cancerous tumor can influence which genes are active and the cell’s role in the cancer’s biology.

The NIH Record

The NIH Record, founded in 1949, is the biweekly newsletter for employees of the National Institutes of Health.

Published 25 times each year, it comes out on payday Fridays.

Assistant Editor: Eric Bock
Eric.Bock@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)

Staff Writer: Amber Snyder
Amber.Snyder@nih.gov (link sends e-mail)