MERS-CoV spike protein: Targets for vaccines and therapeutics

Qihui Wang; Gary Wong; Guangwen Lu; Jinghua Yan; George F Gao

doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.07.015

MERS-CoV spike protein: Targets for vaccines and therapeutics

Antiviral Res. 2016 Sep:133:165-77. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.07.015. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Authors

Qihui Wang¹, Gary Wong², Guangwen Lu³, Jinghua Yan⁴, George F Gao⁵

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
³ West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
⁴ CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
⁵ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

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: Animal models; Coronavirus; MERS-CoV; Spike protein; Therapeutics; Vaccines.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
Antibodies, Viral / immunology
Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
Drug Discovery
Humans
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / immunology*
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / physiology
Receptors, Virus / chemistry
Receptors, Virus / metabolism
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / chemistry
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology*
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
Structure-Activity Relationship
Vaccines, DNA / immunology
Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / immunology
Viral Vaccines / immunology*
Virus Internalization

Substances

Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
Antiviral Agents
Receptors, Virus
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Vaccines, DNA
Vaccines, Subunit
Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
Viral Vaccines

Grants and funding

CIHR/Canada