Genetically Engineered Live-Attenuated Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Viruses Confer Full Protection against Lethal Infection.

ABSTRACT: There are no approved vaccines against the life-threatening Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Attenuated vaccines have proven their potential to induce strong and long-lasting immune responses. We have previously described that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope (E) protein is a virulence factor. Based on this knowledge, a collection of mutants carrying partial deletions spanning the C-terminal domain of the E protein (rMERS-CoV-E*) has been generated using a reverse genetics system. One of these mutants, MERS-CoV-E*Δ2in, was attenuated and provided full protection in a challenge with virulent MERS-CoV after a single immunization dose. The MERS-CoV-E*Δ2in mutant was stable as it maintained its attenuation after 16 passages in cell cultu

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Alvarez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8092200 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature