Emerging Infectious Diseases (May 2020)

Serologic Detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Functional Antibodies

  • Nisreen M.A. Okba,
  • Ivy Widjaja,
  • Wentao Li,
  • Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel,
  • Elmoubasher A.B.A. Farag,
  • Mohammed Al-Hajri,
  • Wan Beom Park,
  • Myoung-don Oh,
  • Chantal B.E.M. Reusken,
  • Marion P.G. Koopmans,
  • Berend-Jan Bosch,
  • Bart L. Haagmans

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2605.190921
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 5
pp. 1024 – 1027

Abstract

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We developed and validated 2 species-independent protein-based assays to detect Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus functional antibodies that can block virus receptor-binding or sialic acid-attachment. Antibody levels measured in both assays correlated strongly with virus-neutralizing antibody titers, proving their use for serologic confirmatory diagnosis of Middle East respiratory syndrome.

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