Experimental Synthetic MERS Vaccine Fully Protects Monkeys from the Disease

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is caused by a novel coronavirus. Since its identification in 2012, MERS has been linked to over 1,300 infections and about 400 deaths. Researchers have revealed that an experimental synthetic vaccine given six weeks before exposure to MERS coronavirus fully protects rhesus macaques from disease.

The experimental vaccine also generated potentially protective antibodies in blood drawn from camels, the purported source of MERS transmission in the Middle East. This shows that this vaccine could be deployed to break this link in the MERS transmission cycle.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) - Causes Symptoms Treatment Prevention
MERS, a newly discovered respiratory disease, was recently reported in the Arabian region. MERS is caused by a virus similar to that causing common cold and other respiratory illnesses.

Study first author Karuppiah Muthumani, research assistant professor at Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania in the US, said, "This simple synthetic vaccine has the potential to overcome important production and deployment limitations, and what is more, the vaccine is non-live, so does not pose a risk of spreading to unintended individuals."

The researchers said, "This new vaccine could decrease person-to-person spread of infection in the event of an outbreak and help to protect health care workers or exposed individuals."

The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine (STM).

South Korea Hit by the Largest Outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
South Korea is reeling under the worst case of MERS outbreak, which has already claimed nine lives, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 108.

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MERS Cases Rise to 181, Death Total Rises to 31: South Korean Health Ministry
The South Korean health ministry reported 181 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and two deaths due to the virus, escalating the toll to 31.

South Korea Reports Three New MERS Cases, Total Number of Cases Rise to 169
The three new MERS infections came a day after South Korea reported no new cases, raising guarded hope that Seoul was winning the battle to contain the virus.