MERS-Corona Virus Gene Replikins Significantly Increased in Both Camels and Humans; Associated with Rapid Virus Replication

LONDON, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Keiji Fukuda, WHO assistant director-general for health security, quoted by the Ministry of Health, South Korea (1) raised the question of whether there is evidence of changes in MERS gene structure that might account for the current MERS progression in South Korea.

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Replikins, Ltd. announced today that whereas other investigators of MERS virus gene sequences isolated in current cases in South Korea have not found by other methods any changes suggesting increased infectivity of MERS virus, Replikins GeneForecast™ automated analysis shows clear quantitative evidence of an increase in virus gene Replikin Counts associated with rapid replication and outbreaks of viruses.  Replikins are virus gene structures found to be related to rapid replication and outbreaks of viruses.

These MERS virus genes isolated from humans show a 1.6 fold increase in Replikin Counts, which are greater than 4.0 Replikins per 100 amino acids from 2013 to 2014. This evidence of change has been observed previously in over 3 million automated Replikins gene sequence analyses of all of 41 outbreaks of 16 other viruses over the past decade to be associated with virus rapid replication and in advance of the occurrence and expansion of virus outbreaks.

There is gathering evidence that camels are likely reservoirs of the MERS virus.  Analysis of all camel MERS gene sequences published in PubMed to date were found to have an even greater increase than that found in humans in Replikin Counts greater than 4.0 per 100 amino acids, from 2013 to 2014, a 2.6 fold increase. Reservoir virus gene Replikins concentration buildup in other viruses also has been associated one to two years in advance with expanding virus outbreaks.

This automated technology predicted the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic one year in advance, in 2008, and the subsequent recurrent H1N1 outbreaks (2), predicted both the onset and sudden decline of the Ebola outbreak of 2014 (3), and is the basis of a successful H5N1 synthetic influenza Vaccine in chickens (4).

The present MERS-CoV gene results suggest current control efforts should not be reduced; rather, public health control and therapeutic efforts should be increased.

The MERS Replikin gene structures, which are increasing, are the basis of completely synthetic Replikins Vaccine-Blockers™ (solid phase synthesis).

The International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD), meeting May 20-21, 2015 at the Wellcome Trust in London, asked Replikins Ltd to form a Vaccine Consortium to apply the new Replikins technology of Surveillance and Synthetic Vaccine production, testing and distribution to the largely unmet needs of the billions of people with Neglected Tropical Diseases (linked here and below in Reference 5). The Consortium is being formed. The first targets include Dengue Fever, Ebola, and MERS-CoV.

For individuals and institutions interested in joining the non-profit Consortium, please contact:

Dr. Samuel Bogoch, MD
Email
(646) 320-5910

References:

1. International Business Times UK. June 16, 2015
2. Bogoch, S. and Bogoch, E., Replikins.NaturePrec.doi10.1038/npre.2011, 6219 August 2011
3. Ebola and MERS-CoV Replikins vaccine candidates. PRNewswire June 4, 2015
4. Jackwood, M.W. et al. Efficacy of a Replikin Peptide Vaccine against Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5 Virus. Avian Diseases. 53: 613–617, 2009.
5. ISNTD announcement of  "Development of an NTD Vaccine Consortium" at the Wellcome Trust, London, May 20-21, 2015. http://replikins.com/press_77.html 

SOURCE Replikins Ltd.

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