Mers breakthrough: Hong Kong researchers pinpoint two genes that are key to triggering growth of the disease
University of Hong Kong team hope their research can lead to the development of an effective treatment for Middle East respiratory syndrome
Two genes have been identified by University of Hong Kong researchers as key to triggering the growth of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) virus.
The breakthrough provided insights into the development of more targeted medication in future, as there is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for Mers.
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The virus has infected more than 1,600 people around the world since 2012 and killed 587 people.
Compared to Sars, which has a mortality rate of 10 per cent, Mers has a much higher rate of 30 per cent.
Internationally renowned microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and his team discovered that two genes – Smad 7 and FGF2 – multiplied much faster in a cell infected by the Mers virus.
“When the two genes multiplied, cells would die. The process of dying helps the proliferation and release of the virus,” said Yuen, who first gained fame in the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003.
The virus was found to make use of healthy cells and reproduce more by taking them over.