MERS-CoV Antibody Responses 1 Year after Symptom Onset, South Korea, 2015

• DOI: 10.3201/eid2307.170310
• Publication Date: 2017-05-08T16:17:57Z
• Authors: Pyoeng Gyun Choe; R.A.P.M. Perera; Wan Beom Park; Kyoung-Ho Song; Ji Hwan Bang; Eu Suk Kim; Hong Bin Kim; Long Wei Ronald Ko; Sang Won Park; Nam-Joong Kim; Eric H.Y. Lau; Leo L.M. Poon; Malik Peiris; Myoung-don Oh
• Keywords: Antibody titer; Antibody response

Abstract We investigated the kinetics of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) neutralizing and spike protein antibody titers over course 1 year in 11 patients who were confirmed by reverse transcription PCR to have been infected during outbreak South Korea 2015. Robust responses detected all survivors had severe disease; remained detectable, albeit with some waning, for <1 year. The duration viral RNA detection (but not load) sputum significantly correlated response magnitude. MERS S1 ELISA well response. Antibody 4 6 mild illness undetectable even though most evidence pneumonia. This finding implies that MERS-CoV seroepidemiologic studies markedly underestimate extent asymptomatic infection. Obtaining convalescent-phase plasma high treat will be challenging.