The receptor binding domain of MERS-CoV: the dawn of vaccine and treatment development

J Formos Med Assoc. 2014 Mar;113(3):143-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2013.11.006. Epub 2013 Dec 15.

Abstract

The newly emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is becoming another "SARS-like" threat to the world. It has an extremely high death rate (∼50%) as there is no vaccine or efficient therapeutics. The identification of the structures of both the MERS-CoV receptor binding domain (RBD) and its complex with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), raises the hope of alleviating this currently severe situation. In this review, we examined the molecular basis of the RBD-receptor interaction to outline why/how could we use MERS-CoV RBD to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Keywords: Middle East; coronavirus; drug design; vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Coronavirus / chemistry
  • Coronavirus / immunology*
  • Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / chemistry
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / immunology*
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / metabolism
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Virus / chemistry
  • Receptors, Virus / immunology*
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Viral Vaccines / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4