Passive immunotherapy for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection with equine immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin fragments in a mouse model
Healthy horses immunized with MERS-CoV virus-like particles rapidly generate high titers of virus neutralizing antibodies. Passive transfer of equine immune antibodies significantly reduced virus titers from the lungs of MERS-CoV infected mice. F(ab’)2 fragments prepared by digestion of antibody with pepsin to reduce possible allergic responses. Equine immune antibodies are polyclonal and recognize more antigen determinants in MERS-CoV spike protein.