Klinische Infektionskrankheiten: Open Access

MERS-CoV: Decoding the Genetic Makeup of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Abstract

Trevor Ayaz

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been a topic of significant concern in recent years due to its potential for causing severe respiratory illness and its capacity for human-to-human transmission. To understand the intricacies of this virus, scientists have delved into the genetic makeup of MERS-CoV, seeking insights into its origins, evolution and ways to combat its spread. MERS-CoV belongs to the Coronaviridae family, the same family that includes other notorious viruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARSCoV) and more recently, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The genome of MERS-CoV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA molecule, comprising about 30,000 nucleotides. This genetic material encodes various structural and non-structural proteins essential for the virus’s survival and replication.