Pox virus articles from across Nature Portfolio

The 2023 monkeypox outbreak was caused by a subclade IIb monkeypox virus (MPXV). Here, using advanced sequencing techniques, the authors identify variations on low-complexity regions of the MPXV genome and describe their potential as evolutionary drivers.

In this study, the authors show that a single dose of a combination of two human-like monoclonal antibodies protect mice in therapeutic treatment against challenges with ectromelia virus and monkeypox virus. Combination treatment provided more effective viral clearance than single antibody treatment.

Chiuppesi et al. demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccine COH04S1, harboring a synthetic modified vaccinia Ankara-vector, elicits cross-reactive responses against mpox virus (MPXV) similar to those induced by FDA-approved mpox vaccine JYNNEOS in healthy adults and non-human primates. COH04S1 also confers protective immunity against MPXV in a mouse model of mpox.

The first known local mpox outbreak in Guangdong Province, China occurred in June 2023. Here, the authors perform phylogenetic and molecular evolution analysis of ten mpox virus genome sequences from this outbreak, and place them in the context of other samples detected in surrounding regions.

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus is the vaccine deployed to curb mpox. Here the authors conduct a multiplexed proteomic analysis to quantify cellular and viral proteins throughout MVA virus infection of human fibroblasts and macrophages and see substantial remodelling of the host proteome.

A new study identified two distinct lineages of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in the United States with evidence of genome editing by host apolipoprotein B editing complex (APOBEC3) cytosine deaminase, which might be accelerating MPXV evolution.

A recent study investigated viral loads in clinical samples with the aim of understanding the distribution of monkeypox virus in the human body and how this distribution may be influencing viral transmission

The ongoing monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries is likely to be a consequence of the failure to curtail the spread of the disease in endemic regions of Africa despite decades of constant outbreaks. A globally driven one health approach to prevention and treatment of the disease is essential to control present and future outbreaks.

A retrospective analysis of seven cases of monkeypox describes virus loads over time and looks at potential management options.