Researchers at Purdue University say they have identified molecules that can shut down a key enzyme needed by the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, virus. "This enzyme is a prime target--an Achilles' heel of the virus--and we were excited to find an inhibitor that worked, but we were puzzled by the results," said team leader Andrew Mesecar. "The behavior was very different from what our work with SARS and other related coronaviruses predicted. So, we investigated what was happening in order to put together the whole story. Now we have new, valuable information for the scientific community working on MERS." A new outbreak of MERS has raised alarms around the globe. Release