Development of vaccines against MERS coronavirus and Merbecovirus prototype pathogens

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a severe respiratory infection caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a member of the Merbecovirus subgenera in the Betacoronavirus genus. There are no licensed vaccines against MERS-CoV, furthermore our understanding of the members within the Merbecovirus subgenera is still within early stages. As global surveillance efforts continue to unveil new members within this subgenera, analysis of receptor utilization and viral tropism reveal the broad use of ACE2 and DPP4 receptor orthologues, some of which are capable of utilizing human receptors for cell entry. This underscores the need for not only continued viral surveillance to monitor for future outbreak potentials but also the development of vaccine therapeutics against MERS-CoV, which could help guide further advances to address broadly protective Merbecovirus vaccines.