Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a comprehensive review

Abstract

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus was first identified in 2012 and has since then remained uncontrolled. Cases have been mostly reported in the Middle East, however travel-associated cases and outbreaks have also occurred. Nosocomial and zoonotic transmission of the virus appear to be the most important routes. The infection is severe and highly fatal thus necessitating rapid and efficacious interventions. Here, we performed a comprehensive review of published literature and summarized the epidemiology of the virus. In addition, we summarized the virological aspects of the infection and reviewed the animal models used as well as vaccination and antiviral tested against it.

Keywords

MERS / coronavirus / review

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSN272201400006C, the Egyptian Science and Technology Development Fund, under contract number 5175, and supported by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC).

Compliance with ethics guidelines

Mahmoud M. Shehata, Mokhtar R. Gomaa, Mohamed A. Ali, and Ghazi Kayali declare that they have no conflict of interest. This manuscript is a review article and does not involve a research protocol requiring approval by the relevant institutional review board or ethics committee.

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