title: Toward Developing a Preventive MERS-CoV Vaccine-Report from a Workshop Organized by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health and the International Vaccine Institute, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 14-15, 2015.
abstract: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) remains a serious international public health threat. With the goal of accelerating the development of countermeasures against MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), funding agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers across the world assembled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 14-15, 2015, to discuss vaccine development challenges. The meeting was spearheaded by the Saudi Ministry of Health and co-organized by the International Vaccine Institute, South Korea. Accelerating the development of a preventive vaccine requires a better understanding of MERS epidemiology, transmission, and pathogenesis in humans and animals. A combination of rodent and nonhuman primate models should be considered in evaluating and developing preventive and therapeutic vaccine candidates. Dromedary camels should be considered for the development of veterinary vaccines. Several vaccine technology platforms targeting the MERS-CoV spike protein were discussed. Mechanisms to maximize investment, provide robust data, and affect public health are urgently needed.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Excler
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Marni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: In-Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kayvon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Modjarrad
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boujelal
authors.forename: Vasee S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Moorthy
authors.forename: Ahmad Salah
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hersi
authors.forename: Jerome H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002162:Camelus; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Saudi Arabia; animal models; coronavirus; prevention; therapeutic antibodies; vaccine; viruses; zoonosis