OmniVira

Identification of Serum Antibodies Cross-Reactive with Pathogenic Betacoronavirus Amongst Rural Communities Within the Forested Region of the Republic of Guinea.

Tom R W Tipton1,2 Joseph A Bore3 Joseph Timothy4 Stephanie Longet1 Stephen M Laidlaw1,2 Grace Hood1,2 Craig Thompson5 Jack Mellors1 Ifono Kekoura3 Millimon S Lucien3 Beatrice K Koivogui3 Kpade Zeze3 David Matthews6 Andrew D Davidson6 Alex Mentzer1 Donal Skelly1 Paul Klenerman7 Julian Hiscox8 N'Faly Magassouba9 Kimberley Fornace10 Miles W Carroll1,2
Affiliations 10 institutions
  1. Center for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
  2. Nuffield Department of Medicine, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
  3. Centre de Recherche et d'Analyse Médicale (CRAM), Macenta, Guinea.
  4. Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
  5. Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
  6. School of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
  7. Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK.
  8. Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool CH64 7TE, UK.
  9. Projet Laboratoire Fièvres Hémorragiques, Conakry, Guinea.
  10. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore.
PMID42797820 DOI10.3390/v18090989 Year2026 Journal Viruses Languageeng Publication statusActive
Active Last checked 2026-09-28 03:31:06 Source: NCBI PubMed

Abstract

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused major morbidity, mortality, and economic disruption, highlighting the need to better understand zoonotic spillover risks posed by coronaviruses. We investigated whether archived human sera from forested Guinea contained evidence of prior exposure to coronaviruses antigenically related to known pathogenic human coronaviruses. Methods: Archived sera collected in 2017-2018 from wildlife hunter communities in Guinea were analysed using serological assays against spike glycoproteins from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and seasonal human coronaviruses. Binding responses to receptor binding domains were also assessed, together with spatial and subgroup analyses. Results: Pre-pandemic sera showed IgG cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV spike antigens. A distinct subgroup demonstrated strong binding to both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV receptor binding domains. Conclusions: These findings highlight the utility of sero-epidemiology in identifying potential zoonotic spillover. However, further investigation is needed to identify these viruses and determine their homology to known pathogenic coronaviruses.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
coronavirus 198 sero-epidemiology 1 zoonosis 118 Antibodies, Viral 216 Betacoronavirus 79 Coronavirus Infections 172 COVID-19 427 Animals 1981 Cross Reactions 22 Forests 13 Guinea 14 Humans 1455 Immunoglobulin G 26 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 69 Rural Population 6 SARS-CoV-2 456 Seroepidemiologic Studies 114 Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 79 Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus 276 Zoonoses 401

Evidence records

2 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
2 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Serological Evidence
2 records
OVE12246 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Pre-2019 human sera from wildlife hunter communities in Guinea showed IgG cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV spike antigens.

Virus
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Host
wildlife hunter communities Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Archived sera collected in 2017-2018 from wildlife hunter communities in Guinea were analysed using serological assays against spike glycoproteins from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and seasonal human coronaviruses. Pre-pandemic sera showed IgG cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV spike antigens.

Method
serological assays against spike glycoproteins
Sample type
sera | serum
OVE12247 Serological Evidence
Key finding

A subgroup of human sera from Guinea showed strong binding to both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV receptor binding domains.

Virus
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Host
wildlife hunter communities Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Archived sera collected in 2017-2018 from wildlife hunter communities in Guinea were analysed using serological assays against spike glycoproteins from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and seasonal human coronaviruses. A distinct subgroup demonstrated strong binding to both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV receptor binding domains.

Method
receptor binding domain binding assay
Sample type
sera | serum