A new study from researchers at the George Washington University has found that certain bacteria living in the nose may influence how likely someone is to get a COVID-19 infection. Published in EBioMedicine, the research reveals that certain types of nasal bacteria can affect the levels of key proteins the virus needs to enter human cells, offering new insight into why some people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.
We’ve known that the virus SARS-CoV-2 enters the body through the respiratory tract, with the nose being a key entry point. What’s new-and surprising-is that bacteria in our noses can influence the levels of proteins that the virus uses to infect cells.”
Cindy Liu, associate professor of environmental and occupational health, GW Milken Institute School of Public…