Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (#MERS-CoV): An underestimated #betacoronavirus with #pandemic potential
Highlights • MERS-CoV remains an endemic camel-associated betacoronavirus with ongoing zoonotic spillover. • Viral evolution shows three major clades with lineage B predominance and documented recombination. • DPP4-mediated entry, immune suppression , and T-cell apoptosis drive severe disease and high fatality. • Diagnosis relies primarily on rRT-PCR , while treatments and vaccines remain experimental. • Strengthened One-Health surveillance , IPC, and genomic monitoring are essential for pandemic preparedness. Abstract Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic beta coronavirus identified in 2012 that circulates in dromedary camels and occasionally infects humans. Although community spread is limited , the disease shows a high case fatality rate near 36 percent and has caused hospital outbreaks such as the 2015 South Korea event . The viral spike binds the DPP4 (CD26) receptor, enabling entry into airway epithelial and sele...