title: Association of human leukocyte antigen class II alleles with severe Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a disease of the lower respiratory tract and is characterized by high mortality. It is caused by a beta coronavirus (CoV) referred to as MERS-CoV. Majority of MERS-CoV cases have been reported from Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II alleles in patients with severe MERS who were admitted in our Intensive Care Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 23 Saudi patients with severe MERS-CoV infection were typed for HLA class II, results were compared with those of 161 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two HLA class II alleles were associated with the disease; HLA-DRB1*11:01 and DQB1*02:02, but not with the disease outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the HLA-DRB1*11:01 and DQB1*02:02 may be associated with susceptibility to MERS.
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pathology and Laboratory, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ali H
authors: AH
authors: Hajeer
authors: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hanan
authors: H
authors: Balkhy
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Sameera
authors: S
authors: Johani
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed Z
authors: MZ
authors: Yousef
authors: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Intensive Care, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Yaseen
authors: Y
authors: Arabi
keywords: Human leukocyte Antigen Class II; Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus; Saudi Arabia