Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) replicates in cells of different species using dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) as a functional receptor. Here we show the resistance of ferrets to MERS-CoV infection and inability of ferret DDP4 to bind MERS-CoV. Site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids variable in ferret DPP4 thus revealed the functional human DPP4 virus binding site. Adenosine deaminase (ADA), a DPP4 binding protein, competed for virus binding, acting as a natural antagonist for MERS-CoV infection.

doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02935-13, hdl.handle.net/1765/68010
Journal of Virology
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Department of Virology

Stalin Raj, V. S., Smits, S., Provacia, L., van den Brand, J., Wiersma, L., Ouwendijk, W., … Haagmans, B. (2014). Adenosine deaminase acts as a natural antagonist for dipeptidyl peptidase 4-mediated entry of the middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Journal of Virology, 88(3), 1834–1838. doi:10.1128/JVI.02935-13