tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2026 Nov;32(11):1874-1878.
doi: 10.3201/eid3211.260690.
Merel R Te Marvelde, Anna Z Mykytyn, Matthijs P Raadsen, Alexandre H J Bouffier, Sivana Baptista Varela, Rory D de Vries, Corine H GeurtsvanKessel, Bart L Haagmans
Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies could compromise the specificity of MERS-CoV serology, potentially leading to misclassification of infection history. SARS-CoV-2 exposure induced MERS-CoV antibodies primarily targeting the conserved S2 domain, with occasional neutralizing capacity. Combining MERS-CoV S1 binding with neutralization, however, limited the influence of SARS-CoV-2-induced cross-reactivity on MERS-CoV serology.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; cross-reactivity; diagnostics; respiratory infections; serology; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the Netherlands; vaccination; viruses.
. 2026 Nov;32(11):1874-1878.
doi: 10.3201/eid3211.260690.
Serologic Testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 Cross-Reactive Immune Responses, the Netherlands
Merel R Te Marvelde, Anna Z Mykytyn, Matthijs P Raadsen, Alexandre H J Bouffier, Sivana Baptista Varela, Rory D de Vries, Corine H GeurtsvanKessel, Bart L Haagmans
- PMID: 42912379
- DOI: 10.3201/eid3211.260690
Abstract
Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies could compromise the specificity of MERS-CoV serology, potentially leading to misclassification of infection history. SARS-CoV-2 exposure induced MERS-CoV antibodies primarily targeting the conserved S2 domain, with occasional neutralizing capacity. Combining MERS-CoV S1 binding with neutralization, however, limited the influence of SARS-CoV-2-induced cross-reactivity on MERS-CoV serology.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; cross-reactivity; diagnostics; respiratory infections; serology; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the Netherlands; vaccination; viruses.