Longevity of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Antibody Responses in Humans, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Understanding the immune response to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is crucial for disease prevention and vaccine development. We studied the antibody responses in 48 human MERS-CoV infection survivors who had variable disease severity in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected for 6 years postinfection.

Keywords: MERS; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Saudi Arabia; antibody responses; coronaviruses; disease severity; humans; longevity; patients; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Neutralization antibody titers in Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) convalescent-phase serum samples measured 2–-6 years postinfection, Saudi Arabia. Three groups (patients who had mild, moderate, or severe MERS) were enrolled in this study, and serum samples were collected for neutralizing antibody detection (median focus reduction neutralization test titer) at the indicated times after recovery. The cutoff value was 1:20. Median titers of neutralizing antibody (red dots) and interquartile range (blue bars) were measured according to years postinfection (panel A) and disease severity (panel B). There was no major decrease in neutralizing antibodies over 6 years postinfection. Survivors who had moderate and severe disease had higher neutralizing antibody titers then survivors who had mild disease. Mod, moderate; Sev, severe.