Passive immunotherapy for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection with equine immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin fragments in a mouse model

Antiviral Res. 2017 Jan:137:125-130. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.11.016. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a highly lethal pulmonary infection caused by a coronavirus (CoV), MERS-CoV. With the continuing spread of MERS-CoV, prophylactic and therapeutic treatments are urgently needed. In this study, we prepared purified equine F(ab')2 from horses immunized with MERS-CoV virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing MERS-CoV S, M and E proteins. Both IgG and F(ab')2 efficiently neutralized MERS-CoV replication in tissue culture. Passive transfer of equine immune antibodies significantly reduced virus titers and accelerated virus clearance from the lungs of MERS-CoV infected mice. Our data show that horses immunized with MERS-CoV VLPs can serve as a primary source of protective F(ab')2 for potential use in the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of exposed or infected patients.

Keywords: Animal model; Equine immune serum; F(ab’)(2) fragment; Immunoglobulin; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / therapeutic use*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Horses / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive*
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / therapeutic use*
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / immunology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • F(ab')2 receptor
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Immunologic