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Virus Evolution 2024Monkeypox (MPOX), a zoonotic disease originating in Western and Central Africa in 1970, has seen a recent surge in outbreaks across 100+ countries. A comparative...
Monkeypox (MPOX), a zoonotic disease originating in Western and Central Africa in 1970, has seen a recent surge in outbreaks across 100+ countries. A comparative analysis of 404 Monkeypox virus (MPXV) genomes revealed notable changes in microsatellite abundance and density, especially within Clades I, IIa, and IIb. Each clade exhibited unique microsatellite motifs, with twenty-six conserved loci specific to MPXV, suggesting their potential as molecular markers in diagnostics. Additionally, nine genes in the MPXV genome featured ten variable hotspot microsatellite regions associated with surface protein synthesis and host control. Notably, gene OPG153, especially at the SSR locus '(ATC)n', exhibited the most pronounced variations among lineages over time and plays a role in virus pathogenesis within the host cell. These findings not only enhance our understanding of MPXV unique molecular profile but also offer valuable insights into potential pathogenic and evolutionary implications.
PubMed: 38827420
DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae043 -
Heliyon May 2024Due to the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after its eradication in 1980, a large part of the human population remains naïve against smallpox and other...
Due to the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after its eradication in 1980, a large part of the human population remains naïve against smallpox and other members of the orthopoxvirus genus. As a part of biosafety personnel protection programs, laboratory workers receive prophylactic vaccinations against diverse infectious agents, including smallpox. Here, we studied the levels of cross-protecting neutralizing antibodies as well as total IgG induced by either first- or third-generation smallpox vaccines against Monkeypox virus, using a clinical isolate from the 2022 outbreak. Serum neutralization tests indicated better overall neutralization capacity after vaccination with first-generation smallpox vaccines, compared to an attenuated third-generation vaccine. Results obtained from total IgG ELISA, however, did not show higher induction of orthopoxvirus-specific IgGs in first-generation vaccine recipients. Taken together, our results indicate a lower level of cross-protecting neutralizing antibodies against Monkeypox virus in recipients of third-generation smallpox vaccine compared to first-generation vaccine recipients, although total IgG levels were comparable.
PubMed: 38826712
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31490 -
Nature Communications May 2024The recent outbreak of mpox epidemic, caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), poses a new threat to global public health. Here, we initially assessed the preexisting antibody...
The recent outbreak of mpox epidemic, caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), poses a new threat to global public health. Here, we initially assessed the preexisting antibody level to the MPXV B6 protein in vaccinia vaccinees born before the end of the immunization program and then identified two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), hMB621 and hMB668, targeting distinct epitopes on B6, from one vaccinee. Binding assays demonstrate that both MAbs exhibit broad binding abilities to B6 and its orthologs in vaccinia (VACV), variola (VARV) and cowpox viruses (CPXV). Neutralizing assays reveal that the two MAbs showed potent neutralization against VACV. Animal experiments using a BALB/c female mouse model indicate that the two MAbs showed effective protection against VACV via intraperitoneal injection. Additionally, we determined the complex structure of B6 and hMB668, revealing the structural feature of B6 and the epitope of hMB668. Collectively, our study provides two promising antibody candidates for the treatment of orthopoxvirus infections, including mpox.
Topics: Animals; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Humans; Female; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Mice; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Epitopes; Monkeypox virus; Poxviridae Infections; Vaccinia virus; Orthopoxvirus; Mpox (monkeypox)
PubMed: 38821921
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48312-2 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Jul 2024Mpox is a zoonotic disease that became epidemic in multiple countries in 2022. There is a lack of published systematic reviews on natural animal infection due to Mpox.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Mpox is a zoonotic disease that became epidemic in multiple countries in 2022. There is a lack of published systematic reviews on natural animal infection due to Mpox. We performed a systematic literature review with meta-analysis to assess animal Mpox prevalence. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for prevalence studies. After the screening, 15 reports were selected for full-text assessment and included in qualitative and quantitative analyses. Ten reports assessed Mpox infection by molecular or serological tests (n = 2680), yielding a pooled prevalence of 16.0% (95%CI: 3.0-29.0%) for non-human primates; 8.0% (95%CI: 4.0-12.0%) for rodents and 1.0% (95%CI: 0.0-3.0%) for shrews. Further studies in other animals are required to define the extent and importance of natural infection due to Mpox. These findings have implications for public human and animal health. OneHealth approach is critical for prevention and control.
Topics: Animals; Zoonoses; Prevalence; Mpox (monkeypox); Rodentia; Humans; Shrews; Primates
PubMed: 38820901
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.04.015 -
Health Science Reports Jun 2024A double-stranded DNA virus called monkeypox virus (MPV) belonging to the Poxviridae family and Orthopoxvirus genus causes monkeypox (mpox) infection. This virus used to...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
A double-stranded DNA virus called monkeypox virus (MPV) belonging to the Poxviridae family and Orthopoxvirus genus causes monkeypox (mpox) infection. This virus used to infect only Central, East, and West Africa. However, it has spread to an extent outside Africa recently. The range of MPV outbreaks was so high that on July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). About a year later, the WHO notified the end of a global public health emergency for mpox on May 11, 2023. Here, we aimed to assess the current pathogenicity and potential risk of MPV causing public health emergencies.
METHODS
We searched information from published articles available in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. We used monkeypox, mpox, monkeypox outbreak, and monkeypox virus as keywords during the literature search.
RESULTS
Many new variants of MPV have emerged throughout the world that created PHEIC for mpox. Considering the low lethality and transmission rate, mpox is no longer a global public health threat. In addition, the availability of therapeutic and preventive measures helped the healthcare authorities fight the mpox infection in an efficient manner. In this review, we have portrayed the history and evolution of mpox from past to present and an idea of its future outcomes. Also, we have discussed the symptoms related to mpox and approved antiviral treatment strategies to fight off the infection in this piece. This review also emphasized the preventive guidelines set by the WHO for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to control the outbreak of mpox infection.
CONCLUSION
We believe this article would give an idea about the potential public health threats of the recent multi-country monkeypox outbreak to the healthcare authorities for taking measures accordingly.
PubMed: 38817885
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2136 -
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2023To determine the knowledge about and acceptance level of monkeypox vaccine in men who have sex with men (MSM).
BACKGROUND/AIM
To determine the knowledge about and acceptance level of monkeypox vaccine in men who have sex with men (MSM).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A 14-item questionnaire, developed by the European Centers for Disease Control (ECDC), was presented online to MSM, aged ≥18 years old, via smartphone applications (Grindr and Hornet), between June 30th and August 12th, 2022.
RESULTS
Of the 737 participants who completed the survey, 678 were born in Türkiye and 59 were migrants/visitors born in different countries. All of the participants were living in Türkiye. The median age was 31 (range 18-68) years. Overall, 21.9% were HIV-positive, 94.9% were using antiretroviral therapy (ART), 3.9% reported using preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 9.9% had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 12 months, and 10.1% reported using chemicals during sexual intercourse in the past three months.Participants aged 45-54 were significantly more concerned about being treated differently due to monkeypox than those in the other age groups (p = 0.038). Compared to the participants who were HIV-negative, those who were HIV-positive were significantly more worried about acquiring monkeypox (34.1% were very worried and 43.6% were worried, p = 0.033), were more likely to definitely or probably get vaccinated if offered (67.6% and 80.6%, respectively, p = 0.002), and were more concerned about being exposed to different attitudes due to monkeypox (37.0% and 53.3%, respectively, p < 0.01). Among those using ART, 82.3% and 50.0% reported that they would definitely or probably get vaccinated if offered, respectively (p = 0.046). There were no significant differences between groups for the remaining parameters.
CONCLUSION
Despite the low level of knowledge about monkeypox, the majority of the participants reported that they believed in the vaccine's efficacy. Those who were HIV-positive were particularly more concerned about monkeypox and were more willing to protect themselves compared to those who were HIV-negative.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Homosexuality, Male; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Young Adult; Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adolescent; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Mpox (monkeypox); Turkey; HIV Infections
PubMed: 38813016
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5679 -
Nature Communications May 2024Understanding of infection dynamics is important for public health measures against monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection. Herein, samples from multiple body sites and...
Understanding of infection dynamics is important for public health measures against monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection. Herein, samples from multiple body sites and environmental fomites of 77 acute MPXV infections (HIV co-infection: N = 42) were collected every two to three days and used for detection of MPXV DNA, surface protein specific antibodies and neutralizing titers. Skin lesions show 100% positivity rate of MPXV DNA, followed by rectum (88.16%), saliva (83.78%) and oropharynx (78.95%). Positivity rate of oropharynx decreases rapidly after 7 days post symptom onset (d.p.o), while the rectum and saliva maintain a positivity rate similar to skin lesions. Viral dynamics are similar among skin lesions, saliva and oropharynx, with a peak at about 6 d.p.o. In contrast, viral levels in the rectum peak at the beginning of symptom onset and decrease rapidly thereafter. 52.66% of environmental fomite swabs are positive for MPXV DNA, with highest positivity rate (69.89%) from air-conditioning air outlets. High seropositivity against A29L (100%) and H3L (94.74%) are detected, while a correlation between IgG endpoint titers and neutralizing titers is only found for A29L. Most indexes are similar between HIV and Non-HIV participants, while HIV and rectitis are associated with higher viral loads in rectum.
Topics: Humans; Male; Virus Shedding; Antibodies, Viral; Prospective Studies; Adult; Monkeypox virus; Mpox (monkeypox); Saliva; HIV Infections; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Middle Aged; Longitudinal Studies; DNA, Viral; Oropharynx; Coinfection; Viral Load; Fomites
PubMed: 38802350
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48754-8 -
Antiviral Therapy Jun 2024Monkeypox has emerged as a noteworthy worldwide issue due to its daily escalating case count. This illness presents diverse symptoms, including skin manifestations,...
Monkeypox has emerged as a noteworthy worldwide issue due to its daily escalating case count. This illness presents diverse symptoms, including skin manifestations, which have the potential to spread through contact. The transmission of this infectious agent is intricate and readily transfers between individuals. The hypothetical protein MPXV-SI-2022V502225_00135 strain of monkeypox underwent structural and functional analysis using NCBI-CD Search, Pfam, and InterProScan. Quality assessment utilized PROCHECK, QMEAN, Verify3D, and ERRAT, followed by protein-ligand docking, visualization, and a 100-nanosecond simulation on Schrodinger Maestro. Different physicochemical properties were estimated, indicating a stable molecular weight (49147.14) and theoretical pI (5.62) with functional annotation tools predicting the target protein to contain the domain of Chordopox_A20R domain. In secondary structure analysis, the helix coil was found to be predominant. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the protein was obtained using a template protein (PDB ID: ), which became more stable after YASARA energy minimization and was validated by quality assessment tools like PROCHECK, QMEAN, Verify3D, and ERRAT. Protein-ligand docking was conducted using PyRx 9.0 software to examine the binding and interactions between a ligand and a hypothetical protein, focusing on various amino acids. The model structure, active site, and binding site were visualized using the CASTp server, FTsite, and PyMOL. A 100 nanosecond simulation was performed with ligand CID_16124688 to evaluate the efficiency of this protein. The analysis revealed significant binding interactions and enhanced stability, aiding in drug or vaccine design for effective antiviral treatment and patient management.
Topics: Molecular Docking Simulation; Viral Proteins; Monkeypox virus; Computer Simulation; Humans; Ligands; Protein Binding; Protein Domains; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Protein Conformation; Models, Molecular; Structure-Activity Relationship; Binding Sites
PubMed: 38801671
DOI: 10.1177/13596535241255199 -
Journal of Cellular and Molecular... May 2024The current era we experience is full with pandemic infectious agents that no longer threatens the major local source but the whole globe. Almost the most emerging...
The current era we experience is full with pandemic infectious agents that no longer threatens the major local source but the whole globe. Almost the most emerging infectious agents are severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2), followed by monkeypox virus (MPXV). Since no approved antiviral drugs nor licensed active vaccines are yet available, we aimed to utilize immunoinformatics approach to design chimeric vaccine against the two mentioned viruses. This is the first study to deal with design divalent vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and MPXV. ORF8, E and M proteins from Omicron SARS-CoV-2 and gp182 from MPXV were used as the protein precursor from which multi-epitopes (inducing B-cell, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and interferon-ɣ) chimeric vaccine was contrived. The structure of the vaccine construct was predicted, validated, and docked to toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2). Moreover, its sequence was also used to examine the immune simulation profile and was then inserted into the pET-28a plasmid for in silico cloning. The vaccine construct was probable antigen (0.543) and safe (non-allergen) with strong binding energy to TLR-2 (-1169.8 kcal/mol) and found to have significant immune simulation profile. In conclusion, the designed chimeric vaccine was potent and safe against SARS-CoV-2 and MPXV, which deserves further consideration.
Topics: SARS-CoV-2; Humans; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Molecular Docking Simulation; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; Epitopes
PubMed: 38801408
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18452 -
Annali Di Igiene : Medicina Preventiva... May 2024Up until recently, monkeypox (mpox) was considered to be a rare zoonotic infection restricted to Central and West Africa. However, in July 2022, the World Health...
BACKGROUND
Up until recently, monkeypox (mpox) was considered to be a rare zoonotic infection restricted to Central and West Africa. However, in July 2022, the World Health Organization declared mpox to be a public health emergency of international concern, after there were several outbreaks in non-endemic countries. This study assessed the information channels used by individuals accessing the "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" of Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health in Italy) with regard to mpox. We also evaluated their awareness, and knowledge about mpox focusing on transmission and prevention.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study conducted on "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" users, between January and April 2023. The target population was helpline users who were older than 18 years of age, and were phoning the service for the first time (i.e. who have not phoned in the last 12 months). Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire containing 19 questions filled by the interviewer. Collected data were analysed through descriptive statistics, and significance testing.
RESULTS
From January to April 2023, "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse" received 2,389 phone calls, 216 of which participated in this study. Most of these were male (85.2%; n=186), single (79.2%; n=171) and in employment (72.2%; n=156). Awareness about mpox was high (71.3%; n=154), with the central and south/islands regional areas having the highest percentage of participants who heard about the virus (84.3%; n=43 vs 72.4%; n=42; p=0.078). Television was the most frequently mentioned source of information about mpox by participants (63%; n=97; p<0.001). This medium was also the most preferred source of information about mpox (39%; n=60; p=0.109). The majority of participants stated that they did not know what mpox is (67.6%; n=146), and less than half knew that it is preventable (42.4%; n=89). Of those who stated that mpox is a preventable illness, less than half knew about the existence of a vaccine (44.9%; n=40; p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides insights into the awareness, knowledge, prevention tools and information channels of individuals who contacted the "Telefono Verde AIDS e Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse". Useful indications for defining future information campaigns were obtained.
PubMed: 38801199
DOI: 10.7416/ai.2024.2637