HeLa cells were used by Jonas Salk to test the first polio vaccine in the 1950s. They were observed to be easily infected by poliomyelitis, causing infected cells to die. This made HeLa cells highly desirable for polio vaccine testing since results could be easily obtained. A large volume of HeLa cells were needed for the testing of Salk's polio vaccine, prompting the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) to find a facility capable of mass-producing HeLa cells. In the spring of 1953, a cell culture factory was established at Tuskegee University to supply Salk and other labs with HeLa cells.
Salk of soldiers (fire and maneuver team) forming a fireteam. Salk A salk () is a small military unit led by a senior soldier that is subordinate to an infantry squad. "Salk" is bigger than a lahingpaar ("fire and maneuver team") but smaller than a jagu ("squad"). It is also one of the smallest military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units. It usually consists of three to five soldiers, and may be further subdivided into fire and maneuver teams. A "salk" is composed of two fire and maneuver teams of two soldiers each, as well as a fireteam leader