Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34873451›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical and translational science2021

Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Orf3a and E ion channel activity in COVID-19 blood samples.

Han-Gang Yu, Gina Sizemore, Katy Smoot, Peter Perrotta

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical and translational science, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. The 6-kilodalton peptide 1 of the familyFrontiers in microbiology · 2025
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Han-Gang YuDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6838-8310
Gina SizemoreEZCARE Walk-In Medical Center, Moorefield, WV, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0586-9229
Katy SmootDepartment of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Peter PerrottaDepartment of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
West Virginia University · USMemorialCare Health System · US

Funding

West Virginia IDEA-CTRU54GM104942 · NIGMS · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · PI Sally Lynn Hodder · 2012 to 2026
$81.0M
Stroke and Alzheimers Disease Related DementiasT32AG052375 · NIA · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · PI Paul D Chantler, BERNARD G. SCHREURS · 2017 to 2026
$3.5M
NIA NIH HHS T32 AG052375NIGMS NIH HHS U54 GM104942
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSARS-CoV-2 has been found in the heart of COVID-19 patients. It is unclear how the virus passes from the upper respiratory tract to the myocardium. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 is present in the blood of COVID-19 infected patients, spreading to other organs such as heart.

methodsWe targeted two viroporins, Orf3a and E, in SARS-CoV-2. Orf3a and E form non-voltage-gated ion channels. A combined fluorescence potassium ion assay with three channel modulators (4-aminopyridine, emodin-Orf3a channel blocker, and gliclazide-E channel blocker) was developed to detect SARS-CoV-2 Orf3a/E channel activity. In blood samples, we subtracted the fluorescence signals in the absence and presence of emodin/gliclazide to detect Orf3a and E channel activity.

resultsIn lentivirus-spiked samples, we detected significant channel activity of Orf3a/E based on increase in fluorescence induced by 4-aminopyridine, and this increase in fluorescence was inhibited by emodin and gliclazide. In 18 antigen/PCR-positive samples, our test results found 15 are positive, demonstrating 83.3% concordance. In 24 antigen/PCR-negative samples, our test results found 21 are negative, showing 87.5% concordance.

conclusionsWe developed a cell-free test that can detect Orf3a/E channel activity of SARS-CoV-2 in blood samples from COVID-19-infected individuals, confirming a hypothesis that the virus spreads to the heart via blood circulation.

Indexed as

bloodchannel activity detectionCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID34873451
PMCPMC8632412
OpenAlexW3200310809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.