Mers-cov inhibitor peptides

Abstract

The MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides include a set of peptides designed by modification or mutation of a wild type MERS-CoV fusion protein. The MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides are capable of inhibition of MERS-CoV membrane fusion, and thereby may prevent or slow the spread of MERS-CoV infections. Thus, the MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides may be used in pharmaceuticals to prevent and/or treat MERS-CoV infection. The pharmaceuticals may be formulated to comprise at least one of the MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides and a carrier, or they may include one or more expression systems capable of promoting cellular expression of one or more MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides. The MERS-CoV inhibitor peptides may also be used as reagents for MERS-CoV inhibition assays as a standard or reference inhibitors.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for conducting a MERS CoV inhibition assay comprising using a MERS CoV inhibitor as a standard or as a reference inhibitor, wherein the MERS CoV inhibitor comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6 and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the assay is a cell-cell fusion assay. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the the assays is a MERS CoV plaque formation assay. 
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition consisting of a MERS CoV inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the MERS CoV inhibitor comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6 and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing MERS CoV infection of a cell comprising:
 administering a composition comprising at least one peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4-6, and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         16 .- 19 . (canceled)