Increased triacylglyceride and ceramide levels are key for MERS-CoV replication

Combating emerging viral threats requires an in-depth understanding of how the virus commandeers host resources to facilitate replication. Viral particles are comprised of protein and lipids; hence, the synthesis of both is critical for virus spread. Our studies have demonstrated that the synthesis of two lipid species, ceramides and triacylglycerides, is essential for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus replication and that virus replication is impaired if these synthetic pathways are blocked. These results suggest a model wherein coronaviruses perturb overall cellular metabolism to shift resources to the production of ceramides and triacylglycerides. Our findings suggest a strategy for targeting coronavirus replication through the inhibition of specific subsets of lipid metabolism.