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Study on the virological difference between African and Middle Eastern strains of MERS-CoV

Research Project

Project/Area Number 20K06441
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
Research InstitutionNational Institute of Infectious Diseases

Principal Investigator

Kazuya Shirato  国立感染症研究所, ウイルス第三部, 室長 (40415477)

Project Period (FY) 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
KeywordsMERS-CoV / Africa / Ethiopia / Neutralization / Virus replication / ヒトコブラクダ / エチオピア / スパイクタンパク質 / Spike protein
Outline of Research at the Start

中東呼吸器症候群コロナウイルス(MERS-CoV)の宿主はヒトコブラクダであり、中東、アフリカにおいてほぼ100%のヒトコブラクダがMERS-CoVに対する抗体を保有しているが、アフリカにおけるヒトのMERS発症例の報告は1件もない。申請者らは先の研究で、エチオピアMERS-CoVのスパイク(S)タンパク質を持つウイルスは、中東分離株と比較して低いウイルス複製能、高い被中和性を示すことを明らかにし、ヒトでの発症例がない原因である可能性を示唆した。そこで本研究では、これらMERS-CoV株間にみられる差異に関するウイルスの分子基盤を解明する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There have been no reported cases of human Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Africa, despite the presence of MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Previous studies have shown that recombinant MERS-CoV carrying the S protein of an Ethiopian isolate replicated slower and was more easily neutralized relative to MERS-CoV carrying the S protein of a Middle Eastern isolate. In this study, we investigated the amino acid(s) in S protein associated with the different viral characteristics between Ethiopian and Middle Eastern MERS-CoVs. The results revealed that a single amino acid difference in the receptor binding domain was sufficient to reverse the neutralization profile. This implies that slight genetic changes can alter the predominant population of MERS-CoV, similar to the transition of variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Careful genetic monitoring of isolates is important to detect the spread of possible virulent MERS-CoVs generated by mutation(s).

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は重症急性呼吸器症候群コロナウイルス-2(SARS-CoV-2)のVOCの変遷と同様に、わずかな遺伝子の変異でMERS-CoVの優勢な集団が変化する可能性があることを示唆している。変異によって生じた強毒性MERS-CoVの拡散を検出するためには、分離株の遺伝子を注意深く監視することが重要ということを示した。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (3 results)

All 2023 2022

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 3 results)

  • [Journal Article] Single Amino Acid Substitution in the Receptor Binding Domain of Spike Protein Is Sufficient To Convert the Neutralization Profile between Ethiopian and Middle Eastern Isolates of Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus2023

    • Author(s)
      Sugimoto Satoko、Kakizaki Masatoshi、Kawase Miyuki、Kawachi Kengo、Ujike Makoto、Kamitani Wataru、Sentsui Hiroshi、Shirato Kazuya
    • Journal Title

      Microbiology Spectrum

      Volume: 11 Issue: 2

    • DOI

      10.1128/spectrum.04590-22

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Less Frequent Sequence Mismatches in Variants of Concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the Real-Time RT-PCR Assays Developed by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan2022

    • Author(s)
      Shirato Kazuya、Matsuyama Shutoku、Takeda Makoto
    • Journal Title

      Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases

      Volume: 75 Issue: 1 Pages: 96-101

    • DOI

      10.7883/yoken.JJID.2021.213

    • NAID

      130008143962

    • ISSN
      1344-6304, 1884-2836
    • Year and Date
      2022-01-31
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Detection of the ORF1 Gene Is an Indicator of the Possible Isolation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 22022

    • Author(s)
      Shirato Kazuya、Kakizaki Masatoshi、Tomita Yuriko、Kawase Miyuki、Takeda Makoto
    • Journal Title

      Pathogens

      Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Pages: 302-302

    • DOI

      10.3390/pathogens11030302

    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access

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Published: 2020-04-28   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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