NFKB1 and COVID-19: ORF7a triggers an immune response in host cells.337 It not only activates NF-κB signaling and induces the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines338 but also inhibits the induction of type-I interferon by blocking STAT2 phosphorylation.339–341 Therefore, ORF7a is an attractive therapeutic target for COVID-19.