Isolation of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from a Patient of the 2015 Korean Outbreak

J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Feb;31(2):315-20. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.2.315. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Abstract

During the 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Korea, 186 persons were infected, resulting in 38 fatalities. We isolated MERS-CoV from the oropharyngeal sample obtained from a patient of the outbreak. Cytopathic effects showing detachment and rounding of cells were observed in Vero cell cultures 3 days after inoculation of the sample. Spherical virus particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Full-length genome sequence of the virus isolate was obtained and phylogenetic analyses showed that it clustered with clade B of MERS-CoV.

Keywords: Korea; Microscopy, Electron; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; Phylogeny.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / classification
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / genetics
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / ultrastructure
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • RNA, Viral