中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒(MERS-CoV) 是一种高病死率的冠状病毒，对世界公共卫生安全带来极大威胁。尽管已经有证据认为除了人以外，骆驼也是MERS-CoV的宿主，但是该病毒是否可以感染其它物种，目前尚不明确，这极大地限制了其防控措施的有效制定。前期工作中，我们解析了MERS-CoV S受体结合域（MERS-RBD）与人受体CD26的复合物结构，从分子层面阐明这一病毒与宿主的相互作用机制。目前实验结果首次表明MERS-RBD-mFc可以结合到猪CD26表达的细胞表面。由于我国是生猪养殖大国，且在农村地区猪与人密切接触。因而阐明猪是否是MERS-CoV的潜在宿主具有重大的公共卫生意义。本项目拟在蛋白、细胞以及假病毒水平确定MERS S蛋白与猪CD26结合可能性及其介导病毒感染的能力，并且通过复合物的结构解析揭示MERS-RBD与猪CD26的结合模式，为我国MERS-CoV的防控提供理论依据。

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes high mortality, threatening the world's public health security. Evidence showed that dromedary camel is another host of MERS-CoV. However, it remains unclear whether there are other potential hosts, which greatly limits the effective development of their prevention and control initiatives. Our group has solved a complex structure of the receptor binding domain of MERS spike (MERS-RBD) and the human receptor CD26 and showed the atomic interaction between MERS-CoV and its host. Preliminary results in our lab show that MERS-RBD-mFc bind to swine CD26 expression cells. Since Chinese raise lots of pigs, and in rural areas people closely contact with pigs. It is of great public health significance to clarify whether the pig is another potential host of MERS-CoV. The project aims to determine the binding characteristics of MERS-RBD to swine CD26 and whether the interaction between the two molecules can initiate MERS-CoV infection to pig. We also hope to illustrate the binding mode of MERS-RBD with swine CD26 by solving the complex structure. Finally, we aim to provide a theoretical basis for MERS-CoV prevention and control initiatives.