title: MERS-CoV spike protein: Targets for vaccines and therapeutics.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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: wangqihui@im.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Qihui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Guangwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: 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: gaof@im.ac.cn.
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D053586:Virus Internalization
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Animal models; Coronavirus; MERS-CoV; Spike protein; Therapeutics; Vaccines