How viruses disrupt connections between heart cells in myocarditis
Viral subversion of intercellular coupling during myocarditis
This project looks at how adenovirus damages the links between heart cells and causes dangerous heart rhythms in people with viral myocarditis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11120898 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had viral myocarditis, researchers would study how a common virus (adenovirus) affects the tiny connections (gap junctions) between my heart cells, focusing on a protein called connexin43 and nearby ion channels. They'll use lab-grown human heart cells and improved infection models to mimic human infection despite species barriers. By tracking changes in electrical signals and cell adhesion during infection, they aim to find the molecular steps that lead to arrhythmias. Those findings could point to targets for drugs or antivirals to help prevent virus-triggered heart rhythm problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected or confirmed viral myocarditis—especially cases linked to adenovirus—or those recovering from recent viral heart infection would be the most relevant candidates for related participation or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients with non-infectious forms of heart disease, chronic heart failure unrelated to viral infection, or inherited arrhythmia syndromes may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific molecular causes of arrhythmias in viral myocarditis and suggest new treatment or antiviral strategies.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is relatively novel: prior work showed adenovirus can target cell adhesion late in infection, but direct links to gap junction dysfunction and arrhythmia are largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Blacksburg, United States
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ — Blacksburg, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smyth, James William — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Smyth, James William
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.