a cross-immunity between sars-cov-2 and mers-cov: interest in anti-sars-cov-2 serotherapy development using dromedary serum

backgrounds: a potential cross-immunity between sars-cov-2 and mers-cov could lead to the development of a serodiagnostic test and/or serotherapy against sars-cov-2 using dromedary camel anti mers-cov serum. materials methods: epidemiological and 66 literature data, of which 35 have been published during 2015-2021, and findings were analysed. findings: according to the statistical data reported during covid-19 pandemic, there are less cases and deaths associated with covid-19 in countries known for dromedary breeding and the circulation of mers-cov (another betacoronavirus disease transmitted by dromedary camels) among humans and dromedaries. this observation and the similarity in genome and immunopathogenicity between sars-cov-2 and mers-cov, suggest that individuals who have been in contact with mers-cov infected dromedaries and/or consumed their products (milk, meat, urine) might have acquired an immunity protecting them against sars-cov-2. in addition to neutralizing antibodies, this immunity could also be due to complement proteins, chemokines, and especially antimicrobial peptides (amp), known for their effect on enveloped viruses. conclusion: most research has focused on vaccines as a solution to stop the pandemic, while serotherapy hasn’t significantly aroused the interest of researchers. this potential cross-immunity between sars-cov-2 and mers-cov could lead to the development of a serodiagnostic test and/or serotherapy against sars-cov-2 using dromedary camel anti mers-cov serum.