Prophylaxis With a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) Specific Human Monoclonal Antibody Protects Rabbits From MERS CoV Infection
Abstract With >1600 documented human infections with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) and a case fatality rate of approximately 36% medical countermeasures are needed to prevent and limit the disease. We examined the in vivo efficacy of the human monoclonal antibody m336, which has high neutralizing activity against MERS CoV in vitro. m336 was administered to rabbits intravenously or intranasally before infection with MERS CoV. Prophylaxis with m336 resulted in a reduction of pulmonary viral RNA titers by 40 9000 fold, compared with an irrelevant control antibody with little to no inflammation or viral antigen detected. This protection in rabbits supports further clinical development of m336.
The Journal of infectious diseases