MERS

Fatal MERS Outbreak Confirmed in Arabia

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 13 May 2025 09:55:50 +0000

Reviewer:

Recent cases and fatalities of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) show that this severe virus continues to pose a threat in countries where it is found in dromedary camels.

Additionally, it remains a risk for healthcare workers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Disease Outbreak News published on May 12, 2025, the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported nine cases of MERS-CoV infection and two fatalities between March and April 21, 2025.

Among the nine cases, a cluster of seven was identified in Riyadh, including six health and care workers who acquired the infection from caring for a single infected patient.

Since the first report of MERS-CoV in KSA in 2012, 2,627 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 946 associated fatalities (Case Fatality Rate of 36%), have been reported to WHO from 27 countries across all six WHO regions. Over 80% of these MERS cases have been reported by the KSA.

The WHO wrote that this notification of MERS cases does not change the overall risk assessment, which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels. The WHO recommends implementing targeted infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections of MERS and onward human transmission.

From a disease prevention perspective, MERS vaccine candidates continue conducting clinical research. These vaccines are not expected to become available in 2025.

For example, a $2.6 million investment was announced on March 25, 2025, empowering a vaccine candidate to enter preclinical trials.

This new investment in Uvax Bio is based on proprietary protein nanoparticle technology, 1c-SApNP®, licensed from Scripps Research. The technology is already being tested in human trials against other infectious diseases.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccine candidates conducting clinical research in 2025

Reference:

WHO - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 05:45

Image Caption:

WHO DON569 May 12, 2025

Saudi Arabia Reports Four More MERS Cases Including Two Fatalities

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:28:57 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Over the past thirteen years, people have been infected with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a respiratory illness. Most of the 2,616 cases have been reported in the Saudi Peninsula, following exposure to camels and llamas.

Without an approved MERS vaccine to protect people, about 36% of reported cases have been fatal.

Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported four MERS infections, including two deaths. The new cases in the KSA were reported over the past few months from the Hail (2), Riyadh (1), and the Eastern (1) provinces.

The standard treatment plan remains supportive, focusing on managing symptoms based on the severity of the illness.

As of March 13, 2025, the investigations found that only one had indirect contact with dromedary camels, a host of MERS, and their raw product, such as milk.

The World Health Organization (WHO)'s DON560 says limited human-to-human MERS transmission has existed.

The WHO expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV infection will be reported where MERS-CoV is circulating in dromedaries and that infected individuals will continue to export cases to other countries.

WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation but has not issued a travel advisory and does not advise special screening at points of entry regarding this event.

While the U.S. CDC recommends various route and travel vaccinations when visiting the KSA, it does not mention MERS as a health risk.

From a prevention perspective, MERS vaccine candidates continue to conduct clinical trials in March 2025, but none have been approved for human use.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccine development continues in March 2025

Reference:

WHO DON 560

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, March 15, 2025 - 07:15

Image Caption:

WHO Geographical distribution of MERS-CoV infections between 6 September 2024 to 28 February 2025 by city and region

Traveling Abroad During Ramadan is Rewarding

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:03:36 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) says Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, with many 'Brits' traveling abroad to visit friends and family.

This year, the M\BIMA says the holy month is expected to begin on February 28, 2025, as the official start of Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it depends on the sighting of the moon.

In 2024, 30 million pilgrims performed Umrah during Ramadan, the Islamic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 13.5 million pilgrims were international travelers, including United Kingdom residents.

As of February 12, 2025, TravelHealthPro offers updated advice about recommended vaccines, mosquito-spread infections such as chikungunya, dengue, malaria, and respiratory illnesses like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) at your destination.

While many diseases have approved vaccines available in 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved a MERS-CoV vaccine candidate.

If you are traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Ministry of Health has established vaccine requirements/recommendations for pilgrims who wish to obtain an Entry Visa to perform Umrah.

Even if time is short, last-minute travel advice is helpful, as vaccines can be given just before departure. Pharmacists or travel clinics to make sure all your recommended travel and routine vaccines, including flu, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus, are on date.

If you have any medical conditions, ensure to discuss your travel plans with your healthcare provider.

Furthermore, check the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the U.S. Department of State foreign travel advice for information on safety and security at your destination.

Sub Title:

Saudi Arabia has vaccination requirements in 2025

References:

British Islamic Medical Association 2025

UK Travel Advice 2025

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 07:00

Image Caption:

US Dept of State 2025

5th MERS Cases Confirmed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:44:39 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) today of one human case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The patient was discharged on September 13, 2024, after receiving a negative test result for this viral respiratory infection. This follow-up appointment was completed, confirming the patient's full recovery.

Published on October 2, 2024, this WHO Disease Outbreak News article confirmed that five MERS-CoV cases, including four deaths, have been reported from KSA this year.

Since the first report of MERS-CoV in the KSA in 2012, human infections have been reported in 27 countries, spanning all six WHO regions. Most (84%) MERS-CoV cases (2,205) and related fatalities (960) have been reported in KSA.

The WHO expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV infection will be reported from the Middle East and/or other countries where MERS-CoV is circulating in dromedaries (camels). In addition, cases will continue to be exported to other countries by infected individuals.

People acquire MERS-CoV through direct or indirect interaction with dromedary camels, which serve as the virus's natural host and zoonotic reservoir.

To date, instances of non-sustained human-to-human transmission have been observed primarily among close contacts and within healthcare environments. There has been limited human-to-human transmission outside of healthcare settings.

However, the notification of this new case last month does not change WHO's overall MERS-CoV risk assessment, which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry regarding this event, nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

At present, no MERS vaccine or targeted treatment is available.

The WHO says several vaccine candidates are conducting human clinical trials in 2024. These vaccines are based on DNA platforms, viral vector platforms, and modified vaccinia Ankara.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the KSA have not approved a MERS vaccine candidate.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2024

Reference:

WHO MERS Risk Assessment October 2024

Image:

Google News Keywords:

vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 07:00

Image Caption:

ECDC MERS case map Aug. 2024

Saudi Arabia Camels Continue Spreading Deadly MERS

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:02:49 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The year 2024 was named "The Year of The Camel" to celebrate the unique cultural value represented by the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, camels remain a living witness of authenticity and a core cultural component of Saudi identity.

However, camels are also the source of a deadly virus.

A recent study found the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) spreads among dromedary camels in the Arabian Peninsula. Still, the reasons for this are not well understood.

The virus is mainly transmitted to people through direct contact with infected camels.

On September 14, 2024, the researchers stated that the ongoing spread of MERS-CoV from camels to humans raises significant public health concerns.

Because MERS-CoV is transmitted from animals to humans, understanding how the virus evolves is crucial for addressing human disease. Efforts to control the impact of MERS-CoV on human populations are being challenged by lineage B5 viruses, which have improved abilities to replicate and spread among dromedary camels.

This new preprint study found of 558 dromedary camel nasal swabs from Saudi Arabia sampled from November 2023 to January 2024, 39% were positive for MERS-CoV RNA.

This finding indicates people should be cautious when engaging with camels in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, MERS infections can be very harmful to humans.

Since April 2012, and as of early August 2024, the European CDC reported a total of 2,622 cases of MERS, including 953 deaths (36%), have been reported worldwide. This year, four MERS fatalities have been reported in sections of Saudi Arabia.

From a protection perspective, the World Health Organization says several MERS vaccine candidates are conducting human clinical trials in 2024. Efforts to develop an effective and safe human MERS vaccine have progressed as of September 22, 2024, with a few vaccine candidates reaching human studies.

For example, CEPI announced funding up to $34.8 million to develop and stockpile the VTP-500 (ChAdOx1 MERS) vaccine. Oxford University's Pandemic Sciences Institute and Barinthus Biotherapeutics Inc. are the developers of this vaccine candidate.

In preparation for an MERS outbreak, the European Medicines Agency has confirmed support for the program through the PRIME designation.

In a related press release, Bill Enright, Barinthus Bio's chief executive officer, stated, "We are thrilled to be working with the University of Oxford and CEPI on developing this critical vaccine candidate. "

"There is an active need for a MERS vaccine for at-risk populations and travelers in the Middle East. It is critical to ensure we have the necessary countermeasures to protect people worldwide from deadly pathogens such as MERS, which have the potential for future outbreaks."

As of September 2024, the U.S. CDC has not issued a travel advisory regarding the MERS cases in Saudi Arabia.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccines are in development in 2024

References:

evolution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2023-2024

MERS-CoV worldwide overview

Image:

Google News Keywords:

MERS, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Monday, September 23, 2024 - 06:30

Image Caption:

Year of the Camel 2024

Camels Shed More Than MERS

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:28:21 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Many tourists visiting the Middle East often take camel rides to enjoy the views of the desert. While this is a glamorous adventure, most people are unaware that camels are a source of various zoonotic diseases.

New epidemiological or molecular evidence shows zoonotic diseases are spreading from camels to humans. These transmissions occur through camel milk, meat, and direct contact with camels.

The journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science published a review on October 3, 2023, that revealed that eight (36.4%) of the 22 investigations that offered convincing evidence of camel-to-human transmission involved Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), five (22.7%) Brucellosis, four (18.2%) plague caused by Yersinia pestis, three (13.6%) camelpox, one (4.5%) hepatitis E, and one (4.5%) anthrax.

The reporting of these zoonotic diseases has been steadily increasing, with the most recent period, from 2010 to the present, accounting for 59% of the reports.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-CoV, a merbecoviruses.

Since the first report of MERS-CoV infection in a patient who died in Saudi Arabia in 2012, about 2,605 cases with 945 associated fatalities (36%) have been reported from 27 countries in six World Health Organization (WHO).

A typical presentation of MERS disease is fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported.

Severe MERS illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit.

The WHO wrote on August 29, 2023, that it expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV viral respiratory infections will be reported from the Middle East and/or other countries where MERS-CoV is circulating in dromedaries. And that patients will continue to be exported to other countries by individuals exposed to the virus.

As of October 13, 2023, MERS-CoV vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials, but no vaccine has been approved for human use.

Sub Title:

MERS-CoV vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2023

References:

Zoonotic Diseases Transmitted from the Camels

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus - Saudi Arabia

Image:

Google News Keywords:

MERS, camels, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, October 14, 2023 - 06:00

Image Caption:

by Ben Kerck

Fatal MERS-CoV Cases Continue in 2023

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:33:45 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

While the world focused on one type of coronavirus for four years, another sub-type continues to impact people.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently notified World Health Organization (WHO) of a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Al Ain City in Abu Dhabi.

This is the UAE's 94th confirmed MERS case and 12th death since July 2013, which indicates this viral respiratory infection has a Case Fatality Ratio of no less than 13%.

According to the WHO's Disease Outbreak News on July 24, 2023, this MERS-CoV case had no history of direct or indirect contact with dromedaries, goats, or sheep.

And this case has no known co-morbidities, no history of contact with MERS-CoV human cases, and no recent travel outside the UAE.

Furthermore, all identified contacts have been monitored for 14 days from the last date of exposure to the MERS-CoV patient, and no secondary case was identified.

So far, non-sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred among close contacts and in healthcare settings. The WHO says there has been limited human-to-human transmission outside the healthcare setting.

Moreover, the notification of this MERS case does not change the WHO's overall risk assessment.

The WHO expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV infection will be reported from the Middle East and/or other countries where MERS-CoV is circulating in dromedaries and that patients will continue to be exported to other countries by individuals who were exposed to the virus through contact with dromedaries or their products (for example, consumption of camel's raw milk), or in a healthcare setting.

Globally, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases reported since 2012 is 2,605, including 936 associated deaths as of July 2023.

An importation of MERS into the Republic of Korea in 2015 led to the largest outbreak outside of the Middle East. By the outbreak's end, 186 laboratory-confirmed cases (185 in the Republic of Korea and 1 in China) and 38 deaths had been recorded.

Although several MERS-CoV-specific vaccines and treatments are developing, no vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccines are in development in 2023

References:

WHO MERS - United Arab Emirates July 2023

MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea, 2015

ECDC - MERS-CoV cases by country of infection and year

Image:

Google News Keywords:

MERS, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 - 06:30

Image Caption:

ECDC MERS Case map 2022

Another MERS Case Confirmed in Oman

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:35:53 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

An unexpected Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) case was recently reported in the Arabian Peninsula by the North Batinah Governorate in Oman.

Humans are generally infected with MERS Coronavirus (CoV) after direct or indirect contact with dromedary camels, the natural host, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, MERS-CoV has demonstrated the ability to be transmitted between humans.

But outside of healthcare settings, there has been limited human-to-human transmission.

This new MERS-CoV case, announced on February 8, 2023, had no history of physical contact with dromedaries, goats, sheep, or contact with camel products, milk, or urine.

This 60-year-old male, a non-healthcare worker with comorbidities, developed symptoms including chest discomfort and shortness of breath in late December 2022.

The case investigation did identify potential exposure sources before symptom onset.

Camel racing exercises were found to have been conducted in the area of the patient’s residence.

And seven of 76 close contacts developed mild respiratory symptoms (five healthcare workers and two family members). These seven cases have been tested for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR, and the results were negative.

The first ever laboratory-confirmed case of MERS-CoV in Oman was reported in 2013.

Since then, including this current case, Oman has reported 26 cases of MERS-CoV, including seven deaths (CFR 27%).

The total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to the WHO is 2603, including 935 associated deaths (CFR 36%) as of December 2022. Most of the reported cases have occurred in countries in the Arabian Peninsula.

A typical presentation of MERS-CoV disease is fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding but not always present.

The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, persons with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases such as renal disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes.

Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit, resulting in high mortality.

As of February 9, 2023, no vaccine or specific treatments are available, although several MERS-CoV-specific vaccines are in development. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.

And the WHO does not advise specific MERS-CoV screening at points of entry about this event, nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

But the U.S. CDC does list MERS as a health risk when visiting Oman.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research

References:

WHO 2023: MERS in Oman

ECDC: MERS-CoV cases April 2012 to January 2023

MERS vaccine candidates 2023

Image:

Google News Keywords:

MERS, vaccines

Featured:

Fact checked:

Monday, February 13, 2023 - 21:00

Image Caption:

MERS-CoV cases by country ECDC Jan. 2023

Will This Coronavirus Follow Soccer Home

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 17:24:56 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

As the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar comes to a close, various countries are concerned about a seldom discussed human coronavirus (hCoV) infecting event attendees and causing disease outbreaks back home.

According to The Sun reporting on December 11, 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged clinicians to look out for people suffering from a fever and breathing difficulties.

"The risk of infection to UK residents is very low but may be higher in those with exposure to specific risk factors within the region, such as to camels," the UKHSA stated. It has also warned of person-to-person transmission of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The UKHSA confirmed about 1,500 suspected cases of MERS have been tested in local labs since 2012.

Previously, one case of MERS-CoV was confirmed in Leeds in August 2018 by an individual who had recently flown from the Middle East. It was the first MERS-CoV case in the UK since 2013.

And in Australia, the government issued a notice on December 2, 2022, confirming anyone traveling from the Middle East, including those returning to Australia from attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup, should be aware of MERS.

Furthermore, reduce your risk of getting MERS by observing good hygiene practices, avoiding close contact with camels, and not consuming uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk, stated Australia in July 2022.

The good news from the World Cup event in Qatar is there have been no MERS cases reported as of December 12, 2022.

However, since 2012, about 2,600 MERS cases with 935 associated fatalities have been reported from 27 countries.

Most MERS cases (84%) have been reported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, Qatar has reported 28 human cases of MERS and seven related fatalities.

The most significant MERS importation outbreak outside the Middle East was in the Republic of Korea in 2015.

By the outbreak's end, 186 laboratory-confirmed cases and 38 related fatalities had been recorded.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people commonly get infected with human coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1.

While the well-known SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has an ample supply of preventive vaccines, no U.S. FDA-approved MERS vaccines are available today.

Several MERS vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Other MERS information is posted at CoronavirusToday.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-checked, research-based vaccine information manually curated for mobile readers.

Sub Title:

FIFA World Cup Soccer 2022

References:

MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea, 2015

WHO: MERS-CoV 2022 - Saudi Arabia

AUS: travellers returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar

UKHSA MERS case in the UK

Image:

Google News Keywords:

soccer, MERS, vaccines

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 - 07:00

Image Caption:

WHO MERS cases

MERS Cases Confirmed in Saudi Arabia

Don Hackett — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 23:51:43 +0000

Reviewer:

Danielle Reiter, RN

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health reported additional Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases in the nation's capital city of Riyadh.

On March 11, 2021, the Ministry of Health confirmed one case is a 57-year-old man who had contact with camels, and the other is a 56-year-old woman who didn't have contact with camels or others known to be infected with MERS-CoV.

These are the seventh MERS-CoV cases confirmed during 2021. MERS-CoV was first reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported between June through December 31, 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported four cases of MERS-CoV with one associated death. The cases were reported from Riyadh (two cases), Taif (one case), and Al-Ahsaa (one case) Regions.

MERS-CoV is a zoonotic, viral beta coronavirus, and the source remains unknown, says the U.S. CDC.

Scientific evidence suggests that people are infected through direct or indirect contact with infected dromedary camels. It causes severe infections that result in a high mortality rate, says the WHO.

Since April 2012 and as of May 2021, 2,589 cases of MERS-CoV, including 940 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide. Only two patients in the USA have ever tested positive for MERS-CoV infection, both in May 2014, while more than 1,300 people tested negative.

The WHO stated on December 31, 2020, it encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for acute respiratory infections and carefully review any unusual patterns based on the current situation and available information. The WHO does not advise special screening at entry points concerning this event, nor does it currently recommend applying any travel or trade restrictions.

The European CDC published on May 7, 2021, the geographical distribution of confirmed MERS-CoV cases by country of infection and year.

As of March 11, 2021, the CDC had not approved a MERS-CoV prevention vaccine. However, there are vaccine candidates in the early stages of development, such as the following:

VTP-500 (ChAdOx1) MERS-CoV is a vaccine candidate from the University of Oxford that consists of the replication-deficient simian adenovirus vector ChAdOx1, containing the MERS Spike protein antigen.
INO-4700 MERS-CoV is a DNA plasmid vaccine that expresses the MERS CoV spike (S) glycoprotein.
MVA MERS (Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara) is a vaccine candidate that contains the full-length spike gene of MERS-CoV.

Note: This article was updated for data accuracy, related hyperlinks, and inserted vaccine descriptions and trends: Since April 2012 and as of May 2021, 2,589 cases of MERS-CoV, including 940 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.

CoronavirusToday publishes research-based news.

Sub Title:

MERS vaccine candidates have launched human studies

References:

MERS cases

WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

MERS Vaccines

ECDC

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, mers, camels and mers, saudi arabia, coronavirus and mers, mers vaccines

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, March 13, 2021 - 06:45

Common Vulnerabilities Across SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS

Don Hackett — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 15:08:35 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

According to a study published by an international research team that includes scientists from the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, there are common vulnerabilities among three coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV.

These betacoronaviruses have triggered global pandemics over the past 20 years.

Betacoronaviruses are microscopic balls covered in spikes that encapsulate a central core of genetic material. The virus must infect cells in order to replicate, and to do this it must first attach to the cells.

The new study’s findings, published in the journal Science on December 4, 2020, identify commonalities among coronaviruses and highlight several shared cellular processes and protein targets that should be considered as targets for therapeutic interventions for pandemics, stated these researchers in a press release led by Christopher Basler, Professor, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Director, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, at Georgia State.

“The efforts identified at least 20 host genes whose protein products significantly alter how much virus is produced by infected cells,” said Basler.

“Those proteins represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention. For example, if a cellular protein is required for efficient virus growth, a drug that inhibits the cellular protein should slow the infection.”

The multidisciplinary, global study also analyzed the medical records of about 740,000 patients with SARS-CoV-2 to identify approved therapeutics with the potential for rapid deployment to treat COVID-19.

Quantitative comparison of the 389 interactors of SARS-CoV-2, 366 of SARS-CoV-1, and 296 of MERS-CoV highlighted interactions with host processes that are conserved across all three viruses, including where nonorthologous proteins from different virus strains seem to fill similar roles. We also localized each individually-expressed viral protein by microscopy and then raised and validated antisera against 14 SARS-CoV-2 proteins to determine their localization during infection.

On the basis of independent genetic perturbation screenings, they identified 73 host factors that, when depleted, caused significant changes in SARS-CoV-2 replication. From this list of potential drug targets, they validated the biological and clinical relevance of Tom70, IL17RA, PGES-2, and SigmaR1.

A 3-Å cryo–electron microscopy structure of Tom70, a mitochondrial import receptor, in complex with SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b, provides insight into how ORF9b may modulate the host immune response.

Using curated genome-wide association study data, we found that individuals with genotypes corresponding to higher soluble IL17RA levels in plasma are at a decreased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization.

To demonstrate the value of the data for drug repurposing, SARS-CoV-2 patients who were prescribed drugs against prioritized targets were identified and asked how they fared compared with carefully matched patients treated with clinically similar drugs that do not inhibit SARS-CoV-2.

Both indomethacin, an inhibitor of host factor PGES-2, and typical antipsychotics, selected for their interaction with sigma receptors, showed effectiveness against COVID-19 compared with celecoxib and atypical antipsychotics, respectively.

In summary, ‘Combining genetically validated host factors with both COVID-19 patient genetic data and medical billing records identified molecular mechanisms and potential drug treatments that merit further molecular and clinical study,’ added these researchers.

The results were achieved by a collaboration among nearly 200 researchers from more than 14 leading institutions in six countries.

Prior studies have identified more than 300 host cell proteins that can interact with SARS-CoV-2 proteins. In this study, the Basler laboratory screened each of these for their capacity to change how well the virus grows.

Co-authors of the study are academic and private sector scientists at the following institutions: The University of California, San Francisco; The University of California, San Francisco’s Quantitative Biosciences Institute’s Coronavirus Research Group; Gladstone Institute; EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge, England; Georgia State; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York; Institut Pasteur in Paris; the University of Freiburg in Germany; the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom; and other institutions as well as the companies Aetion and Synthego.

The work was funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both part of the National Institutes of Health; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; the Center for Research for Influenza Pathogenesis; the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; the Centers of Excellence for Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France); F. Hoffmann-LaRoche AG; Vir Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, European Research Council; the Ron Conway Family; Fast Grants for COVID-19 from the Emergent Ventures program at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University; and an Augusta University-Georgia State University Seed Grant program.

Postdoctoral fellows in Basler’s lab in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences also contributed to the study. Dr. Alexander Jureka was co-first author on the manuscript, and Dr. Jesus Silvas was a contributing author. No industry conflicts of interest were disclosed.

CoronavirusToday publishes research-based news.

Sub Title:

Individuals with genotypes corresponding to higher soluble IL17RA levels in plasma are at a decreased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization

Reference:

Comparative host-coronavirus protein interaction networks reveal pan-viral disease mechanisms

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, coronavirus, sars-cov-1, sars-cov-2, mers, covid 19

Featured:

Study Finds Coronaviruses are Sharply Seasonal

Don Hackett — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 17:01:16 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Researchers from the University of Michigan (UM) School of Public Health found 4 types of human coronaviruses that cause common respiratory infections, are sharply seasonal.

Human coronaviruses (HCoV), long known to infect a wide variety of species, have been recognized as human respiratory pathogens for more than 60 years.

Furthermore, coronaviruses appear to transmit similarly to influenza in the same population, according to a new study published by the Journal of Infectious Diseases, July 1, 2020, Volume 22 edition.

These UM researchers said in a previous press statement: “it’s not possible to tell whether the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 — SARS-CoV-2 — that causes COVID-19 disease, also behaves like this, but hope their findings will help better prepare for what’s yet to come in the pandemic.”

“We do not know whether that virus will behave in the future the way these seasonal viruses behave,” said Arnold Monto, the Thomas Francis Collegiate Professor of Epidemiology.

“Only time will tell if SARS-CoV-2 will become a continuing presence in the respiratory infection landscape, continue with limited circulation as with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), or like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), disappear from humans altogether.”

Researchers note that while coronaviruses have long been recognized as human respiratory pathogens, human coronaviruses have historically been detected in mild respiratory illnesses, unlike animal coronaviruses that have been associated with severe disease in their respective hosts.

SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012 were both caused by a coronavirus of animal origin, as is the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike SARS, human-to-human transmission of MERS has been limited and sporadic cases have continued to occur, primarily in Saudi Arabia among those with contact with camels.

For their study, the UM researchers used data from the Household Influenza Vaccine Evaluation study, an ongoing longitudinal investigation of respiratory illnesses in households with children in the Ann Arbor area.

And, the availability of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has now made it possible to detect infection easily for each of the human coronaviruses.

For the last 10 years, 890 to 1,441 individuals from 209 to 340 households participated in the study, which is now tracking the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential involvement in Michigan households.

Beginning in 2010, the study began tracking the occurrence of 4 types of human coronaviruses: OC43, 229E, HKU1, and NL63.

The UM researchers looked at frequency, seasonality, and household transmission characteristics of the 993 infections caused by these coronaviruses and found:

When year-round surveillance was in place, most coronaviruses cases were detected between December and April/May and peaked in January/February
Only 2.5 percent of the cases occurred between June and September
The highest infection frequency was in children under 5 years of age
Illnesses in children younger than 5 and those older than 50 were more likely to be classified as severe

The UM researchers conclude that the coronaviruses studied are sharply seasonal in Michigan and appear, based on serial interval and secondary infection risk, to have similar transmission potential to influenza A — H3N2 — in the same population.

However, the regular appearance of all types of coronaviruses in the same months with minimal circulation in the summer was a clear finding of this study.

The UM researchers say ‘the results are not necessarily indicative of how the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will behave.’

The transition from pandemic to seasonal circulation is well established for influenza, wherein, following an influenza pandemic, the novel virus becomes the new seasonal virus, replacing the previous A subtype.

The 4 current HCoVs have been circulating for decades, and it is unclear how they initially emerged or whether they replaced previously circulating viruses.

Contrary to influenza, MERS and SARS have not become a fixed presence in seasonal respiratory illness circulation on a global scale.

Only time will tell if SARS-CoV-2 will become a continuing presence in the seasonal HCoV landscape, continue with limited circulation as with MERS, or, like SARS, disappear from humans altogether, stated these researchers.

In a separate ongoing study, the UM researchers are using the samples collected before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emerged to look at the Community-Introduction of that virus.

Preliminary results show no evidence that the novel coronavirus was present in the community before March 2020, they stated.

Precision Vaccinations publishes influenza news.

Sub Title:

Michigan researchers conclude human coronaviruses and influenza are primarily seasonal

References:

Coronavirus Occurrence and Transmission Over 8 Years in the HIVE Cohort of Households in Michigan

Common coronaviruses are highly seasonal, U-M study shows

Cultivation of a Novel Type of Common-cold Virus in Organ Cultures

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, covid-19, coronavirus, sars-cov-2 vaccines, seasonal diseases, influenza,

GoodRx Vaccine:

fluarix-quadrivalent

Featured:

MERS Vaccine Candidate Holds Promise for Other Coronaviruses

Don Hackett — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:11:55 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Researchers at the Universities of Iowa and Georgia announced they developed a vaccine candidate that fully protects mice against a lethal dose of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which is a coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.

Published on April 7, 2020, the team led by Paul McCray, M.D., at the UI Carver College of Medicine, and Biao He, Ph.D., at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, this pre-clinical study found that just one, low-dose of the vaccine given to the mice intranasally was sufficient to fully protect all the treated mice from a lethal dose of MERS coronavirus.

When the researchers analyzed the immune responses generated by the vaccine, they found that both antibodies and protective T cells were produced.

However, the antibody response was quite weak and it seems most likely that the vaccine’s protective effect is due to the T cell response in the mouse lungs.

“Our new study indicates that PIV5 may be a useful vaccine platform for emerging coronavirus diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. McCray, in a press release.

“We are planning more studies in animals to test the ability of PIV5-based vaccines in preventing disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.”

The vaccine is an innocuous parainfluenza virus (PIV5) carrying the “spike” protein that MERS uses to infect cells.

The researchers note several factors that make PIV5 expressing a coronavirus spike protein an appealing platform for vaccine development against emerging coronaviruses.

First, PIV5 can infect many different mammals, including humans, without causing disease.
PIV5 is also being investigated as a vaccine for other respiratory diseases including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.
Second, the fact that a low dose of the vaccine was sufficient to protect the mice might be beneficial for creating enough vaccine for mass immunization.
And finally, the vaccine in the current study was the most effective MERS vaccine to date in animal models of the disease, said these researchers.

Currently, there are various MERS vaccine candidates in ongoing phase 1 clinical studies.

From 2012 until January 31, 2020, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to WHO was 2,519, with 866 associated fatalities, from 27 different countries.

The vast majority of these MERS-CoV cases were confirmed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From January 2020 to March 2, 2020, 35 MERS-CoV cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, unlike some of its regional allies, Saudi Arabia took the deadly SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak seriously, right from the outset.

As of March 28, 2020, data sources indicate the Kingdom has confirmed 1,104 coronavirus cases and just 3 fatalities related to COVID-19 disease.

This research was funded in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI060699, DK-54759), and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Dr. McCray is supported by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. And Dr. Biao He is supported by an endowment of Fred C. Davison Distinguished University Chair in Veterinary Medicine.

Coronavirus vaccine development news published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Iowa research indicates PIV5 may be a viable vaccine platform for coronavirus caused COVID-19 disease

References:

Successful MERS vaccine in mice may hold promise for COVID-19 vaccine

Single-Dose, Intranasal Immunization with Recombinant Parainfluenza Virus 5 Expressing MERS-CoV Spike Protein Protects Mice

WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome

Saudi Arabia Successfully Confronted Both Coronaviruses

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, covid-19 vaccine, mers vaccines, coronavirus mers vaccine, sars-cov-2 vaccine

Featured:

China Partners With Pennsylvania Company to Produce 2019-nCoV Vaccine

Don Hackett — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:54:13 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Beijing Advaccine Biotechnology Co. announced a collaboration with Pennsylvania-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to advance the development in China of the INO-4800 vaccine candidate, which is targeted against the novel coronavirus named 2019-nCoV.

Announced in a press release on January 30, 2020, the goal of this collaboration is to leverage Advaccine's expertise to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial in China in parallel with Inovio's 2019-nCoV development efforts in the USA.

Inovio and Advaccine will also work together to attract additional grant funding and further collaborations with larger vaccine companies in China to increase the speed of future testing of the INO-4800 vaccine candidate.

This is important news since China’s National Health Committees reported 7,830 confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV virus, with 12,139 suspected cases and 170 related fatalities, as of January 30, 2020.

Previously, Inovio announced that it is developing INO-4800 through Phase 1 human testing in the U.S. to evaluate safety and immunogenicity with the support of an initial grant up to $9 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Inovio commented ‘it has already started preclinical testing and preparations for clinical product manufacturing.’

Inovio said it was ‘the first to advance its vaccine candidate (INO-4700) against the coronavirus MERS-CoV, into evaluation in humans.’

Inovio is currently preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for INO-4700 in the Middle East where most MERS viral outbreaks have occurred. Those efforts are supported by CEPI funding and partnership.

Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio's President & CEO, said in the press release, “Our shared goal is to utilize both company's expertise in developing vaccines for emerging infectious diseases and hopefully achieve an accelerated regulatory approval for INO-4800."

In a recently published paper in Lancet Infectious Diseases, Inovio's Phase 1 study of INO-4700, its MERS-CoV vaccine, demonstrated it was well-tolerated and furthermore induced high levels of antibody responses in approximately 95% of subjects, while also generating broad-based T cell responses in nearly 90% of study participants.

Durable antibody responses to INO-4700 were also maintained through 60 weeks following dosing.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronaviruses that infect animals can also evolve and become a human coronavirus, such as MERS.

Inovio's other collaborators in this coronavirus vaccine development include the Wistar Institute and VGXI, a fully owned subsidiary of GeneOne Life Science.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on rapidly bringing to market precisely designed DNA medicines to treat, cure and/or protect people from diseases associated with HPV, cancer, and infectious diseases.

Coronavirus vaccine news published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Inovio INO-4800 vaccine candidate against 2019nCoV to be co-developed in China

References:

Inovio Collaborating With Beijing Advaccine To Advance INO-4800 Vaccine Against New Coronavirus In China

Coronavirus

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccines, china coronavirus, coronavirus deaths

Featured:

MVA-VLP Platform To Design 2019-nCoV Vaccine Candidates

Don Hackett — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:47:24 +0000

Reviewer:

Danielle Reiter, RN

Robert Carlson, MD

A Georgia based biotechnology company, GeoVax Labs, Inc., announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to jointly develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV.

Under this LOI collaboration, GeoVax and BravoVax, a vaccine developer in China, will use the MVA-VLP vaccine platform and expertise to design and construct the vaccine candidate using genetic sequences from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak originating in China.

BravoVax will provide further development, including testing and manufacturing support, as well as direct interactions with Chinese public health and regulatory authorities.

For additional 2019-nCoV vaccine news, please visit these links:

Coronavirus news published by Coronavirus Today.

Sub Title:

GeoVax and BravoVax to develop novel coronavirus vaccines

Reference:

GeoVax and BravoVax (Wuhan, China) to Collaborate on Development of Coronavirus Vaccine

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, Coronavirus vaccines, Coronavirus, Coronavirus in china, Coronavirus deaths, Coronavirus and travel

Featured: