Immune responses in COVID-19 and potential vaccines: Lessons learned from SARS and MERS epidemic

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2020 Mar;38(1):1-9. doi: 10.12932/AP-200220-0772.

Abstract

As the world is witnessing the epidemic of COVID-19, a disease caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerging genetics and clinical evidences suggest a similar path to those of SARS and MERS. The rapid genomic sequencing and open access data, together with advanced vaccine technology, are expected to give us more knowledge on the pathogen itself, including the host immune response as well as the plan for therapeutic vaccines in the near future. This review aims to provide a comparative view among SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and the newly epidemic SARS-CoV-2, in the hope to gain a better understanding of the host-pathogen interaction, host immune responses, and the pathogen immune evasion strategies. This predictive view may help in designing an immune intervention or preventive vaccine for COVID-19 in the near future.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity*
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Epidemics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Viral Vaccines