Innate immune response against MERS-CoV requires IFNα expression.

<p><b>A,B,C,D,E,F</b> qRTPCR analysis of RIG-1, MDA-5 IRF3, IRF7, IFNα and IFNβ from first week broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cells of MERS-CoV infected patients, patient 1 and patient 2 (black columns), Control (white column), <i>S. pneumoniae</i>-induced pneumonia (dark grey column) and patient 2 Herpes simplex virus-induced pneumonia (light grey column) (n = 2 to 4, duplicates). <b>G</b> Assessment of IFNα protein in BAL supernatants from the first week following onset of clinical symptoms in samples from patient 1 and patient 2. Control group, HSV and bacterial samples from BALs of patients without infection, with lung HSV replication and with upper respiratory tract infection respectively. (n = 2 to 4, duplicates), and assessment of IFNα protein in sera of the 30 days following MERS-CoV infection in patient 1 (black line) and patient 2 (grey line). (n = 2 to 4, duplicates). Measurement obtained between D0–3: day 0 and day 3, D4–7: day 4 and 7, D8–14: day 8 and 14, D15–21: day 15 and 21, D22–30: day 22 and 30.