Longevity of seropositivity and neutralizing antibodies in recovered MERS patients: a 5-year follow-up study. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheon, Shinhye; Park, Uni; Park, Hyoree; Kim, Yuri; Nguyen, Yen Thi Hai; Aigerim, Abdimadiyeva; Rhee, Ji-Young; Choi, Jae-Phil; Park, Wan Beom; Park, Sang Won; Kim, Yeonjae; Lim, Dong-Gyun; Yang, Jeong-Sun; Lee, Joo-Yeon; Kim, Yeon-Sook; Cho, Nam-Hyuk
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 28:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Antibody -- Longevity -- MERS-CoV -- Neutralization -- Spike; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: We aimed to assess the longevity of spike-specific antibody responses and neutralizing activity in the plasma of recovered Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) patients. Methods: We traced the antibody responses and neutralizing activity against MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in peripheral blood samples collected from 70 recovered MERS patients for 5 years after the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea. We also measured the half-life of neutralizing antibody titres in the longitudinal specimens. Results: The seropositivity rate persisted for up to 4 years (50.7–56.1%), especially in MERS patients who suffered from severe pneumonia, and then decreased (35.9%) in the fifth year. Although the spike-specific antibody responses decreased gradually, the neutralizing antibody titres decreased more rapidly (half-life: 20 months) in 19 participants without showing negative seroconversion during the study period. Only five (26.3%) participants had neutralizing antibody titres greater than 1/1000 of PRNT50, and a high neutralizing antibody titre over 1/5000 was not detected in the participants at five years after infection. Discussion: The seropositivity rate of the recovered MERS patients persisted up to 4 years after infection and significantly dropped in the fifth year, whereas the neutralizing antibody titres against MERS-CoV decreased more rapidly and were significantly reduced at 4 years after infection.