Journal article
MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.115(12), pp.3144-3149
03/20/2018
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718769115
PMCID: PMC5866576
PMID: 29507189
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic disease of global health concern, and dromedary camels are the source of human infection. Although Africa has the largest number of dromedary camels, and MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is endemic in these camels, locally acquired zoonotic MERS is not reported from Africa. However, little is known of the genetic or phenotypic characterization of MERS-CoV from Africa. In this study we characterize MERS-CoV from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Morocco, and Ethiopia. We demonstrate viral genetic and phenotypic differences in viruses from West Africa, which may be relevant to differences in zoonotic potential, highlighting the need for studies of MERS-CoV at the animal–human interface. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a zoonotic respiratory disease of global public health concern, and dromedary camels are the only proven source of zoonotic infection. Although MERS-CoV infection is ubiquitous in dromedaries across Africa as well as in the Arabian Peninsula, zoonotic disease appears confined to the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoVs from Africa have hitherto been poorly studied. We genetically and phenotypically characterized MERS-CoV from dromedaries sampled in Morocco, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Viruses from Africa (clade C) are phylogenetically distinct from contemporary viruses from the Arabian Peninsula (clades A and B) but remain antigenically similar in microneutralization tests. Viruses from West (Nigeria, Burkina Faso) and North (Morocco) Africa form a subclade, C1, that shares clade-defining genetic signatures including deletions in the accessory gene ORF4b . Compared with human and camel MERS-CoV from Saudi Arabia, virus isolates from Burkina Faso (BF785) and Nigeria (Nig1657) had lower virus replication competence in Calu-3 cells and in ex vivo cultures of human bronchus and lung. BF785 replicated to lower titer in lungs of human DPP4-transduced mice. A reverse genetics-derived recombinant MERS-CoV (EMC) lacking ORF4b elicited higher type I and III IFN responses than the isogenic EMC virus in Calu-3 cells. However, ORF4b deletions may not be the major determinant of the reduced replication competence of BF785 and Nig1657. Genetic and phenotypic differences in West African viruses may be relevant to zoonotic potential. There is an urgent need for studies of MERS-CoV at the animal–human interface.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity
- Creators
- Daniel K. W Chu - The University of Hong KongKenrie P. Y Hui - The University of Hong KongRanawaka A. P. M Perera - The University of Hong KongEve Miguel - Universitè de MontpellierDaniela Niemeyer - Charite-Universitätsmedizin BerlinJincun Zhao - The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityRudragouda Channappanavar - University of IowaGytis Dudas - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterJamiu O Oladipo - University of IlorinAmadou Traoré - L'Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles du Burkina Faso/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et TechnologiqueOuafaa Fassi-Fihri - Hassan II UniversitéAbraham Ali - Ethiopian Public Health InstituteGetnet F Demissié - Haramaya UniversityDoreen Muth - Charite-Universitätsmedizin BerlinMichael C. W Chan - The University of Hong KongJohn M Nicholls - The University of Hong KongDavid K Meyerholz - University of IowaSulyman A Kuranga - University of IlorinGezahegne Mamo - Addis Ababa UniversityZiqi Zhou - The University of Hong KongRay T. Y So - The University of Hong KongMaged G Hemida - Kafrelsheikh UniversityRichard J Webby - St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalFrancois Roger - Kasetsart UniversityAndrew Rambaut - National Institutes of HealthLeo L. M Poon - The University of Hong KongStanley Perlman - University of IowaChristian Drosten - Charite-Universitätsmedizin BerlinVeronique Chevalier - Institut Pasteur du CambodgeMalik Peiris - The University of Hong Kong
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.115(12), pp.3144-3149
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.1718769115
- PMID
- 29507189
- PMCID
- PMC5866576
- NLM abbreviation
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
- ISSN
- 0027-8424
- eISSN
- 1091-6490
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Grant note
- HHSN272201400006C / US National Institutes of Health 206298 / Wellcome Trust DR772/12-1 / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Nil / Commisioned Grant from the Health and Medical Research Fund, Food & Health Bureau, Hong Kong Nil / Mahen Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fred Huthinson Cancer Center PO1 AI060699 / US National Institutes of Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/20/2018
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Pathology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9983777475602771
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