中東呼吸系統綜合症冠狀病毒 是導致中東呼吸系統綜合症 的病原體 （英文 縮寫 ：MERS-CoV 或代號：EMC/2012 『HCoV-EMC/2012』）引起[ 1] 嚴重急性呼吸系統綜合症冠狀病毒 和普通傷風 冠狀病毒 。[ 2] 單鏈核糖核酸 ，為β 冠狀病毒屬的新成員，按基因組 區別被分為了甲、乙兩大系統發生 分支 ；最早期的感染病例是由甲類病毒 造成，與後來的不同。[ 3]
中東冠狀病毒主要襲擊支氣管 上的無纖毛 上皮細胞 。它能避開宿主體內的起始免疫反應 ，並阻止免疫細胞分泌干擾素 。此向性 在眾多呼吸系統病毒裡實屬獨特，因為其他病毒 大多都襲擊纖毛上皮細胞。[ 4] [ 5]
2010年至2013年间进行的一项研究，在310头单峰骆驼 的身上评估MERS的发病率，揭示出MERS冠状病毒中和抗体在这些动物的血清中的滴度高[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] 駱駝奶 ，避免饮用骆驼尿。骆驼尿被认为是各种中东疾病的治疗药物[ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
有限的证据表明MERS冠状病毒不会在人与人间持续传播，无论是在家里或是在医院等卫生保健机构[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16]
^ De Groot RJ; et al. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Announcement of the Coronavirus Study Group . Journal of Virology. 2013-05-15, 87 (14): 7790–2. PMC 3700179 PMID 23678167 doi:10.1128/JVI.01244-13 ^ ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment - Severe respiratory disease associated with a novel coronavirus (PDF) . 2013-02-19 [08-06-2015] . （原始内容 (PDF) 存档于2013-05-31）. ^ MERS Coronaviruses in Dromedary Camels, Egypt . 06-2014 [08-06-2015] . （原始内容存档 于2014-03-08）. ^ Kindler, E.; Jónsdóttir, H. R.; Muth, D.; Hamming, O. J.; Hartmann, R.; Rodriguez, R.; Geffers, R.; Fouchier, R. A.; Drosten, C. Efficient Replication of the Novel Human Betacoronavirus EMC on Primary Human Epithelium Highlights Its Zoonotic Potential . MBio. 2013, 4 (1): e00611–12. PMC 3573664 PMID 23422412 doi:10.1128/mBio.00611-12 ^ Raj, V. S.; Mou, H.; Smits, S. L.; Dekkers, D. H.; Müller, M. A.; Dijkman, R.; Muth, D.; Demmers, J. A.; Zaki, A. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 is a functional receptor for the emerging human coronavirus-EMC. Nature. 03-2013, 495 (7440): 251–4. PMID 23486063 doi:10.1038/nature12005 ^ Hemida, MG; et al. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus seroprevalence in domestic livestock in Saudi Arabia . Eurosurveillance. 2013-12-12, 18 (50) [2015-06-09 ] . （原始内容 存档于2015-04-24）. ^ Briese, T.; et al. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Quasispecies That Include Homologues of Human Isolates Revealed through Whole-Genome Analysis and Virus Cultured from Dromedary Camels in Saudi Arabia . mBio. 2014-04-29 [2014-05-20 ] . doi:10.1128/mBio.01146-14 原始内容 存档于2014-05-02）. ^ Gallagher, James. Camel infection 'led to Mers death' . BBC News . 2014-06-05 [2014-06-05 ] . （原始内容存档 于2014-06-05）. ^ Azhar, E. I.; et al. Evidence for Camel-to-Human Transmission of MERS Coronavirus . The New England Journal of Medicine. 2014-06-04 [2014-06-06 ] . doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1401505 存档 于2014-06-06）. ^ WHO warns about camel products, contact over rising MERS concerns | CTV News . CTV News. 2014-05-10 [2014-05-22 ] . （原始内容存档 于2014-05-22）. ^ Mers virus: Saudis warned to wear masks near camels . BBC News . 2014-05-11 [2014-05-22 ] . （原始内容存档 于2014-05-19）. ^ Saudi Arabia: Farmers flout Mers warning by kissing camels . BBC News . 2014-05-13 [2014-05-22 ] . （原始内容存档 于2014-05-21）. ^ The Health Protection Agency (HPA) UK Novel Coronavirus Investigation team. State of Knowledge and Data Gaps of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Humans . Eurosurveillance. 2013-03-14 [2014-05-21 ] . doi:10.1371/currents.outbreaks.0bf719e352e7478f8ad85fa30127ddb8 存档 于2014-05-21）. ^ Assiri, A.; et al. Hospital Outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus . The New England Journal of Medicine. 2013-01-08 [2014-05-20 ] . doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1306742 存档 于2014-06-10）. ^ Rapid advice note on home care for patients with Mi ddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infecti on presenting with mild symptoms and management of contacts (PDF) . WHO . 2013-08-08 [2014-05-21 ] . （原始内容存档 (PDF) 于2014-05-14）. ^ Cauchemez, S.; et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: quantification of the extent of the epidemic, surveillance biases, and transmissibility . The Lancet Infectious Diseases. January 2014 [2014-05-21 ] . doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70304-9 存档 于2015-09-24）.
. PMID 23678167. doi:10.1128/JVI.01244-13.
