Recovery from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is Associated with Antibody and T Cell ResponsesΠ

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a highly lethal pneumonia. MERS was recently identified as a candidate for vaccine development but most efforts focus on antibody responses, which are often transient after CoV infections. CoV-specific T cells are generally long-live...

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Published in:Science immunology 2017-08, Vol.2 (14)
Main Authors: Zhao, Jingxian, Alshukairi, Abeer N., Baharoon, Salim A., Ahmed, Waleed A., Bokhari, Ahmad A., Nehdi, Atef M., Layqah, Laila A., Alghamdi, Mohammed G., Al Gethamy, Manal M., Dada, Ashraf M., Khalid, Imran, Boujelal, Mohamad, Al Johani, Sameera M., Vogel, Leatrice, Subbarao, Kanta, Mangalam, Ashutosh, Wu, Chaorong, Eyck, Patrick Ten, Perlman, Stanley, Zhao, Jincun
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a highly lethal pneumonia. MERS was recently identified as a candidate for vaccine development but most efforts focus on antibody responses, which are often transient after CoV infections. CoV-specific T cells are generally long-lived but the virus-specific T cell response has not been addressed in MERS patients. Here, we obtained PBMCs and/or sera from 21 MERS survivors. We detected MERS-CoV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in all MERS survivors and demonstrated functionality by measuring cytokine expression after peptide stimulation. Neutralizing (PRNT 50 ) antibody titers measured in vitro predicted serum protective ability in infected mice and correlated with CD4 but not CD8 T cell responses; patients with higher PRNT 50 and CD4 T cell responses had longer ICU stays and prolonged virus shedding and required ventilation. Survivors with undetectable MERS-CoV-specific antibody responses mounted CD8 T cell responses comparable to those of the whole cohort. There were no correlations between age, disease severity, co-morbidities and virus-specific CD8 T cell responses. In conclusion, measurements of MERS-CoV-specific T cell responses may be useful for predicting prognosis, monitoring vaccine efficacy and identifying MERS patients with mild disease in epidemiological studies and will complement virus-specific antibody measurements.
ISSN:2470-9468
DOI:10.1126/sciimmunol.aan5393