Use of the Human Coronavirus 2012 (MERS) GeneSig kit for MERS-CoV detection

Gene Reports
Volume 4, September 2016, Pages 67-69

Rouba Hoteit, Dina Shammaa, Rami Mahfouz

Abstract

Introduction

Mortality due to MERS-CoV infection is common especially among immunocompromised patients. The pathogenesis and the transmission mode of this virus are still not well understood. The name of the virus is derived from the area of its appearance and the genomic sequence that was used in the development of qRT-PCR assays for MERS-CoV detection was retrieved from the first detected case isolate. The employed assays target various regions including the area upstream of the envelope gene (upE) that is used for screening and the open reading frames (ORF) 1a and 1b used for confirmation.

Aim

This study assesses the use of a MERS-CoV specific assay for screening of respiratory samples in anticipation of the possible spread of the virus in the region.

Methods

46 respiratory specimens were tested using the qualitative one-step qRT-PCR GeneSig Human Coronavirus 2012 (MERS) kit (PrimerDesign™).

Results

Out of the 46 tested samples, 45 were negative for MERS-CoV and one sample was found MERS-CoV positive.

Conclusion

The GeneSig Human Coronavirus 2012 (MERS) kit is very useful for the screening of suspected respiratory cases in the Middle East area as well as other regions.

Keywords

MERS-CoV, Lebanon, GeneSig kit

MERS-CoV spike protein: Targets for vaccines and therapeutics

Antiviral Research
Volume 133, September 2016, Pages 165-177

Qihui Wang, Gary Wong, Guangwen Lu, Jinghua Yan, George F. Gao

Abstract

The disease outbreak caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is still ongoing in the Middle East. Over 1700 people have been infected since it was first reported in September 2012. Despite great efforts, licensed vaccines or therapeutics against MERS-CoV remain unavailable. The MERS-CoV spike (S) protein is an important viral antigen known to mediate host-receptor binding and virus entry, as well as induce robust humoral and cell-mediated responses in humans during infection. In this review, we highlight the importance of the S protein in the MERS-CoV life cycle, summarize recent advances in the development of vaccines and therapeutics based on the S protein, and discuss strategies that can be explored to develop new medical countermeasures against MERS-CoV.

Keywords

Coronavirus, MERS-CoV, Spike protein, Vaccines, Therapeutics, Animal models

Prevalence of comorbidities in the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 49, August 2016, Pages 129-133

Alaa Badawi, Seung Gwan Ryoo

Abstract

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with life-threatening severe illnesses and a mortality rate of approximately 35%, particularly in patients with underlying comorbidities. A systematic analysis of 637 MERS-CoV cases suggests that diabetes and hypertension are equally prevalent in approximately 50% of the patients. Cardiac diseases are present in 30% and obesity in 16% of the cases. These conditions down-regulate the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and impair the host's innate and humoral immune systems. In conclusion, protection against MERS-CoV and other respiratory infections can be improved if public health vaccination strategies are tailored to target persons with chronic disorders.

Keywords

Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular diseases, Obesity, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Systematic review

Identification, synthesis and evaluation of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV 3C-like protease inhibitors

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Volume 24, Issue 13, 1 July 2016, Pages 3035-3042

Vathan Kumar, Kian-Pin Tan, Ying-Ming Wang, Sheng-Wei Lin, Po-Huang Liang

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) led to a life-threatening form of atypical pneumonia in late 2002. Following that, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) has recently emerged, killing about 36% of patients infected globally, mainly in Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Based on a scaffold we reported for inhibiting neuraminidase (NA), we synthesized the analogues and identified compounds with low micromolar inhibitory activity against 3CLpro of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Docking studies show that a carboxylate present at either R1 or R4 destabilizes the oxyanion hole in the 3CLpro. Interestingly, 3f, 3g and 3m could inhibit both NA and 3CLpro and serve as a starting point to develop broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

Keywords

MERS-CoV, SARS-Cov, 3CLpro, Coronavirus, Pyrazolone

MERS-CoV: Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus: Can radiology be of help? Initial single center experience

The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Volume 47, Issue 1, March 2016, Pages 95-106

Ahmed Hamimi

Abstract

Human infection with a novel coronavirus named Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in September, 2012. The aim of this study was to establish the most pathognomonic radiological sign(s) to diagnose MERS CoV.

Patients and methods

This is a retrospective descriptive study. All patients were subjected to serial X-ray. High resolution non-contrast CT chest was also obtained for 10 patients. The scans were reviewed for findings including consolidation, ground-glass opacities, nodules, reticular opacities and hilar and mediastinal adenopathy.

Results

A total of 12 patients were included in our study with prevalence of males (2:1) with ages ranging between 18 and 76 years having an average age of 36 ± 2 years. The outcome of these patients was as follows: 6 were treated with average hospital stay ranging between 21 and 35 days, one case died after 14 days, and 5 cases were transferred to Central Governmental hospital according the local authority rules.

Conclusions

MERS CoV virus may have a specific pattern in chest X-ray and CT developing a single or multiple opacities progressing into a widespread multifocal bilateral patches of ground glass opacities or confluent consolidation resembling organizing pneumonia.

Keywords

MERS-CoV, CT, Chest X-ray, Ground glass, Organizing pneumonia