Clin Microbiol Infect
. 2021 Jun 14;S1198-743X(21)00328-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.06.009. Online ahead of print.
Longevity of seropositivity and neutralizing antibodies in recovered MERS patients: a five-year follow-up study
Shinhye Cheon 1 , Uni Park 2 , Hyoree Park 2 , Yuri Kim 3 , Yen Thi Hai Nguyen 2 , Abdimadiyeva Aigerim 2 , Ji-Young Rhee 4 , Jae-Phil Choi 5 , Wan Beom Park 6 , Sang Won Park 6 , Yeonjae Kim 7 , Dong-Gyun Lim 8 , Jeong-Sun Yang 9 , Joo-Yeon Lee 9 , Yeon-Sook Kim 10 , Nam-Hyuk Cho 11
Affiliations
- PMID: 34139334
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.06.009
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 five years after the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea. We also measured the half-life of neutralizing antibody titers in the longitudinal specimens.
Results: The seropositivity rate persisted for up to four 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 titers 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 titers greater than 1/1,000 of PRNT50, and a high neutralizing antibody titer over 1/5,000 was not detected in the participants at five years after infection.
Conclusions: The seropositivity rate of the recovered MERS patients persisted up to four years after infection and significantly dropped in the fifth year, whereas the neutralizing antibody titers against MERS-CoV decreased more rapidly and were significantly reduced at four years after infection.