Longevity of seropositivity and neutralizing antibodies in recovered MERS patients: a 5-year follow-up study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We aimed to assess the longevity of spike-specific antibody responses and neutralizing activity in the plasma of recovered Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) patients.

Methods

We traced the antibody responses and neutralizing activity against MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in peripheral blood samples collected from 70 recovered MERS patients for 5 years after the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea. We also measured the half-life of neutralizing antibody titres in the longitudinal specimens.

Results

The seropositivity rate persisted for up to 4 years (50.7-56.1%), especially in MERS patients who suffered from severe pneumonia, and then decreased (35.9%) in the fifth year. Although the spike-specific antibody responses decreased gradually, the neutralizing a

SUBMITTER: Cheon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8200326 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature