title: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: transmission and phylogenetic evolution.
abstract: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first described in 2012 and, subsequently, many cases were reported with a lower case fatality rate than initial cases. Humans can become infected within their communities and transmission can then be amplified in the healthcare setting. Contact investigation among cases shows a variable amount of spread among family members and healthcare workers. So far, circulating virus strains remain similar under continuous monitoring, with no genetic changes. Here, we discuss the transmission pattern, phylogenetic evolution, and pathogenesis of MERS-CoV infection.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Jaffar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Tawfiq
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: zmemish@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: MERS-CoV; Middle East; coronavirus; pathogenesis