Journal article
Ongoing Evolution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Saudi Arabia, 2023-2024
Emerging infectious diseases, Vol.31(1), pp.57-65
01/2025
DOI: 10.3201/eid3101.241030
PMCID: PMC11682817
PMID: 39641462
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) circulates in dromedary camels in the Arabian Peninsula and occasionally causes spillover infections in humans. MERS-CoV diversity is poorly understood because of the lack of sampling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected 558 swab samples from dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia during November 2023-January 2024. We found 39% were positive for MERS-CoV RNA by reverse transcription PCR. We sequenced 42 MERS-CoVs and 7 human 229E-related coronaviruses from camel swab samples by using high-throughput sequencing. Sequences from both viruses formed monophyletic clades apical to recently available genomes. MERS-CoV sequences were most similar to B5 lineage sequences and harbored unique genetic features, including novel amino acid polymorphisms in the spike protein. Further characterization will be required to understand their effects. MERS-CoV spillover into humans poses considerable public health concerns. Our findings indicate surveillance and phenotypic studies are needed to identify and monitor MERS-CoV pandemic potential.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ongoing Evolution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Saudi Arabia, 2023-2024
- Creators
- Ahmed M Hassan - King Abdulaziz UniversityBarbara Mühlemann - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinTagreed L Al-Subhi - King Abdulaziz UniversityJordi Rodon - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinSherif A El-Kafrawy - King Abdulaziz UniversityZiad Memish - Emory UniversityJulia Melchert - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinTobias Bleicker - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinTiina Mauno - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinStanley PerlmanAlimuddin Zumla - University College LondonTerry C Jones - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinMarcel A Müller - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinVictor M Corman - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinChristian Drosten - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinEsam I Azhar - King Abdulaziz University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Emerging infectious diseases, Vol.31(1), pp.57-65
- DOI
- 10.3201/eid3101.241030
- PMID
- 39641462
- PMCID
- PMC11682817
- NLM abbreviation
- Emerg Infect Dis
- ISSN
- 1080-6040
- eISSN
- 1080-6059
- Publisher
- CENTERS DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION; ATLANTA
- Grant note
- Deanship of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz Universitiy, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCommunity Jameel - Saudi Arabia under Jameel Fund for Infectious Diseases Research and Innovation: 001-141-2024 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research through the German Center for Infection Research: 8040701710, 8064701703, 01KI2021 German Federal Ministry of Health through grant SeroVarCoV, EU HERA Project DurableGerman Research Foundation (DFG)National Science FoundationEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlCharite-Universitatsmedizin BerlinBerlin Institute of Health
We thank Nikolai Zaki and Annowah El-Duah for technical assistance. We also thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz Universitiy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for their support. This work was funded by Community Jameel - Saudi Arabia under Jameel Fund for Infectious Diseases Research and Innovation (grant no. 001-141-2024) , the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research through the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF project nos. 8040701710 and 8064701703) and VARIpath (no. 01KI2021) , the German Federal Ministry of Health through grant SeroVarCoV, EU HERA Project Durable (no. 101102733) , the German Research Foundation (DFG grant MU 3564/3-1 to M.A.M.) , National Science Foundation (grant no. 125599 to M.A.M.) , and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Aurorae project no. NP/21/2021/DPR/25121 to C.D.) . V.M.C. is a participant in the BIH-Charite Clinician Scientist Program funded by Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/06/2024
- Date published
- 01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9984755315602771
Metrics
8 Record Views