Search Results (44)

Co-infections of Orthopoxviruses (OPVs), such as vaccinia virus (VACV) and monkeypox virus (MPXV), and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be associated with severe outcomes. Serro’s dairy region, located in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, is an endemic area for VACV, where zoonotic outbreaks affect rural communities. This epidemiological context is especially relevant for at-risk populations, such as people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study aimed to assess the presence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against OPV in PLHIV in this endemic setting. Serum samples were collected from 177 PLHIV in treatment at the specialized service between December 2021 and August 2022. VACV and MPXV NAbs were measured using the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and VACV-infected cells. The overall occurrence of OPV NAbs was 27.7%. NAbs were higher in individuals born before 1980 (53.3%) than those born after 1980 (1.1%). Among anti-VACV-seropositive individuals, 40.8% also had MPXV NAbs, suggesting cross-immunity. These findings indicate the circulation of VACV in PLHIV and highlight the increased susceptibility to OPV infections among individuals born after the cessation of smallpox vaccination. The results reinforce the importance of continued surveillance of OPV, especially in endemic regions and vulnerable populations. Full article

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), the major public health concern of 2022, has elicited much attention globally. In addition to the usual symptoms observed in smallpox virus infections, infected mothers were found to hold a possible risk of transmission to newborns during delivery. This review aimed to summarize recent clinical trials that involved antiviral therapy, vaccines, immunoglobulin therapy, and other pharmacological interventions specifically for treating infected pregnant women. A comprehensive search was performed using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline to find appropriate disease management strategies. Amongst the vaccines and antivirals being used for treatment, vaccines such as Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA/MVA-BN) and Lister clone 16-medium pocket size-8 (LC16m8), while prophylactically effective, have been deemed unsafe for pregnant and lactating females. Antivirals like Tecovirimat, on the other hand, are considered to be a better alternative, but they are not without risks that may outweigh the potential benefits. Additionally, efforts to reduce maternal and fetal complications include administering the MVA-BN vaccine and awareness campaigns regarding herd immunity. Therefore, necessary precautions, prophylactic vaccinations in high-risk outbreak regions, and symptomatic treatment in pregnant and lactating females currently appear to be more feasible approaches against the mpox virus. Full article

The vaccinia virus (VV) is extensively utilized as a vaccine vector in the treatment of various infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immunodeficiencies, and cancers. The vaccinia virus Tiantan strain (VVTT) has been instrumental as an irreplaceable vaccine strain in the eradication of smallpox in China; however, it still presents significant adverse toxic effects. After the WHO recommended that routine smallpox vaccination be discontinued, the Chinese government stopped the national smallpox vaccination program in 1981. The outbreak of monkeypox in 2022 has focused people’s attention on the Orthopoxvirus. However, there are limited reports on the safety and toxic side effects of VVTT. In this study, we employed a combination of transcriptomic analysis and machine learning-based feature selection to identify key genes implicated in the VVTT infection process. We utilized four machine learning algorithms, including random forest (RF), minimum redundancy maximum relevance (MRMR), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator cross-validation (LASSOCV), for feature selection. Among these, XGB was found to be the most effective and was used for further screening, resulting in an optimal model with an ROC curve of 0.98. Our analysis revealed the involvement of pathways such as spinocerebellar ataxia and the p53 signaling pathway. Additionally, we identified three critical targets during VVTT infection—ARC, JUNB, and EGR2—and further validated these targets using qPCR. Our research elucidates the mechanism by which VVTT infects cells, enhancing our understanding of the smallpox vaccine. This knowledge not only facilitates the development of new and more effective vaccines but also contributes to a deeper comprehension of viral pathogenesis. By advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying VVTT infection, this study lays the foundation for the further development of VVTT. Such insights are crucial for strengthening global health security and ensuring a resilient response to future pandemics. Full article

Background and Aim: Monkeypox (Mpox) is a viral disease mainly found in central and western Africa, with symptoms similar to variola virus (smallpox) but distinguished by the early lymph node swelling specific to Mpox. This review summarizes the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Mpox infection and vaccination, along with management approaches. Method: We searched different databases such as PubMed, Scopus, WoS, and Google Scholar about the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Mpox disease and the associated strategies of management. Results and conclusions: Mpox can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms. These range from mild symptoms like headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and pain to severe symptoms, including seizures, blindness, photophobia, delirium, coma, encephalitis, and transverse myelitis. It is essential to distinguish Mpox from smallpox and other orthopox viruses. Psychiatric issues, such as stigma, disfigurement, isolation, and physical pain, are common in Mpox patients. To address these, healthcare providers should provide accurate information, counseling, and virtual support. Neurological side effects were associated with the previous smallpox vaccine, which offered cross-protection against Mpox. This vaccine has since been replaced by JYNNEOS, which does not pose any neurological risks. Mpox-related neurological symptoms are generally managed with supportive care, including NSAIDs, antibiotics, antiepileptics, and sedatives for seizures. Antivirals like acyclovir are also used. Severe cases may require hospitalization or intubation. So, we recommend early diagnosis, isolation, and prompt treatment, as Mpox spreading to the central nervous system can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications. Full article

According to the WHO, more than 90,000 cases of mpox have been reported since the 2022 worldwide outbreak, which resulted in 167 deaths, while a new outbreak in Africa since 2023 has resulted in over 18,000 cases and 617 deaths. Mpox is a zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus, a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which causes smallpox-like illness. Until 2022, cases were predominately located in West and Central Africa, with only sporadic cases and outbreaks reported in other parts of the world. During the 2022 outbreak, the primary mode of transmission was sexual contact among men who have sex with men. The changing epidemiology of mpox resulted in new disease phenotypes and populations at risk, disproportionally affecting people who live with HIV. Commonly presenting as a mild, self-limiting illness, mpox can cause severe and protracted disease in people with HIV with a CD4 count < 200 cell/mm³. The global emergence of mpox that followed and intersected with COVID-19 mobilized the scientific community and healthcare stakeholders to provide accurate diagnostics, preventive vaccines and treatment to those most affected. Despite existing gaps, this rapid response helped to contain the outbreak, but challenges remain as new variants emerge. Preparedness and readiness to respond to the next outbreak is crucial in order to minimize the impact to the most vulnerable. Full article

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are newly emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases identifies the following as emerging infectious diseases: SARS, MERS, COVID-19, influenza, fungal diseases, plague, schistosomiasis, smallpox, tick-borne diseases, and West Nile fever. The factors that should be taken into consideration are the genetic adaptation of microbial agents and the characteristics of the human host or environment. The new approach to identifying new possible pathogens will have to go through the One Health approach and omics integration data, which are capable of identifying high-priority microorganisms in a short period of time. New bioinformatics technologies enable global integration and sharing of surveillance data for rapid public health decision-making to detect and prevent epidemics and pandemics, ensuring timely response and effective prevention measures. Machine learning tools are being more frequently utilized in the realm of infectious diseases to predict sepsis in patients, diagnose infectious diseases early, and forecast the effectiveness of treatment or the appropriate choice of antibiotic regimen based on clinical data. We will discuss emerging microorganisms, omics techniques applied to infectious diseases, new computational solutions to evaluate biomarkers, and innovative tools that are useful for integrating omics data and electronic medical records data for the clinical management of emerging infectious diseases. Full article

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an emerging zoonotic virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus and presents clinical symptoms similar to those of smallpox, such as fever and vesicular–pustular skin lesions. However, the differential diagnosis between smallpox and monkeypox is that smallpox does not cause lymphadenopathy but monkeypox generates swelling in the lymph nodes. Since the eradication of smallpox, MPXV has been identified as the most common Orthopoxvirus to cause human disease. Despite MPXV being endemic to certain regions of Africa, the current MPXV outbreak, which began in early 2022, has spread to numerous countries worldwide, raising global concern. As of the end of May 2023, over 87,545 cases and 141 deaths have been reported, with most cases identified in non-endemic countries, primarily due to human-to-human transmission. To better understand this emerging threat, this review presents an overview of key aspects of MPXV infection, including its animal reservoirs, modes of transmission, animal models, epidemiology, clinical and immunological features, diagnosis, treatments, vaccines, and prevention strategies. The material presented here provides a comprehensive understanding of MPXV as a disease, while emphasizing the significance and unique characteristics of the 2022 outbreak. This offers valuable information that can inform future research and aid in the development of effective interventions. Full article

The purpose of this review is to give an up-to-date, thorough, and timely overview of monkeypox (Mpox), a severe infectious viral disease. Furthermore, this review provides an up-to-date treatment option for Mpox. The monkeypox virus (MPXV) has remained the most virulent poxvirus for humans since the elimination of smallpox approximately 41 years ago, with distribution mainly in central and west Africa. Mpox in humans is a zoonotically transferred disease that results in symptoms like those of smallpox. It had spread throughout west and central Africa when it was first diagnosed in the Republic of Congo in 1970. Mpox has become a major threat to global health security, necessitating a quick response by virologists, veterinarians, public health professionals, doctors, and researchers to create high-efficiency diagnostic tests, vaccinations, antivirals, and other infection control techniques. The emergence of epidemics outside of Africa emphasizes the disease’s global significance. A better understanding of Mpox’s dynamic epidemiology may be attained by increased surveillance and identification of cases. Full article

Monkeypox (Mpox) is a contagious illness that is caused by the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of viruses as variola, vaccinia, and cowpox. It was first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and has since caused sporadic cases and outbreaks in a few countries in West and Central Africa. In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public-health emergency of international concern due to the unprecedented global spread of the disease. Despite breakthroughs in medical treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics, diseases like monkeypox still cause death and suffering around the world and have a heavy economic impact. The 85,189 reported cases of Mpox as of 29 January 2023 have raised alarm bells. Vaccines for the vaccinia virus can protect against monkeypox, but these immunizations were stopped after smallpox was eradicated. There are, however, treatments available once the illness has taken hold. During the 2022 outbreak, most cases occurred among men who had sex with men, and there was a range of 7–10 days between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Three vaccines are currently used against the Monkeypox virus. Two of these vaccines were initially developed for smallpox, and the third is specifically designed for biological-terrorism protection. The first vaccine is an attenuated, nonreplicating smallpox vaccine that can also be used for immunocompromised individuals, marketed under different names in different regions. The second vaccine, ACAM2000, is a recombinant second-generation vaccine initially developed for smallpox. It is recommended for use in preventing monkeypox infection but is not recommended for individuals with certain health conditions or during pregnancy. The third vaccine, LC16m8, is a licensed attenuated smallpox vaccine designed to lack the B5R envelope-protein gene to reduce neurotoxicity. It generates neutralizing antibodies to multiple poxviruses and broad T-cell responses. The immune response takes 14 days after the second dose of the first two vaccines and 4 weeks after the ACAM2000 dose for maximal immunity development. The efficacy of these vaccines in the current outbreak of monkeypox is uncertain. Adverse events have been reported, and a next generation of safer and specific vaccines is needed. Although some experts claim that developing vaccines with a large spectrum of specificity can be advantageous, epitope-focused immunogens are often more effective in enhancing neutralization. Full article

Monkeypox disease (Mpox) has threatened humankind worldwide since mid-2022. The Mpox virus (MpoxV) is an example of Orthopoxviruses (OPVs), which share similar genomic structures. A few treatments and vaccines are available for Mpox. OPV-specific VP37 protein (VP37P) is a target for developing drugs against Mpox and other OPV-induced infections such as smallpox. This review spotlights the existing and prospective VP37P inhibitors (VP37PIs) for Mpox. The non-patent literature was collected from PubMed, and the patent literature was gathered from free patent databases. Very little work has been carried out on developing VP37PIs. One VP37PI (tecovirimat) has already been approved in Europe to treat Mpox, while another drug, NIOCH-14, is under clinical trial. Developing tecovirimat/NIOCH-14-based combination therapies with clinically used drugs demonstrating activity against Mpox or other OPV infections (mitoxantrone, ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, novobiocin, cidofovir, brincidofovir, idoxuridine, trifluridine, vidarabine, fialuridine, adefovir, imatinib, and rifampicin), immunity boosters (vitamin C, zinc, thymoquinone, quercetin, ginseng, etc.), and vaccines may appear a promising strategy to fight against Mpox and other OPV infections. Drug repurposing is also a good approach for identifying clinically useful VP37PIs. The dearth in the discovery process of VP37PIs makes it an interesting area for further research. The development of the tecovirimat/NIOCH-14-based hybrid molecules with certain chemotherapeutic agents looks fruitful and can be explored to obtain new VP37PI. It would be interesting and challenging to develop an ideal VP37PI concerning its specificity, safety, and efficacy. Full article

Human mpox is an emerging epidemic in the world. The monkey pox virus (MPXV) belongs to the same family of zoonotic Orthopoxviridae as that of the smallpox virus and exhibits similar clinical symptomology. Information regarding its diagnostics, disease epidemiology, surveillance, preventive methods, and treatment strategies are being collated with time. The purpose of this review is to trace the recent events in the scientific platform that have defined new preventive and treatment strategies against mpox. A methodological approach has been used to gather data from the latest literature to comprehensively overview the emerging treatment options. The results portion will cover details regarding the prevention of mpox. It will also shed light on a brief description of contemporary vaccines and antiviral agents that have been evaluated for their treatment potential since the emergence of the mpox threat. These treatment options are setting the pace for controlling the widespread monkeypox infection. However, the limitations attached to these treatment strategies need to be tackled quickly to increase their efficacy so that they can be deployed on a large scale for the prevention of this epidemic becoming another pandemic in this decade. Full article

Human monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis that was first identified in 1970; since then, this infectious disease has been marked as endemic in central and western Africa. The disease has always been considered rare and self-limiting; however, recent worldwide reports of several cases suggest otherwise. Especially with monkeypox being recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infection in humans in the smallpox post-eradication era, its spread across the globe marks a new epidemic. Currently, there is no proven treatment for human monkeypox, and questions about the necessity of developing a vaccine persist. Notably, if we are to take lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, developing a nanomedicine-based preventative strategy might be prudent, particularly with the rapid growth of the use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in medical research. Unfortunately, the collected data in this area is limited, dispersed, and often incomplete. Therefore, this review aims to trace all reported nanomedicine approaches made in the monkeypox area and to suggest possible directions that could be further investigated to develop a counteractive strategy against emerging and existing viruses that could diminish this epidemic and prevent it from becoming a potential pandemic, especially with the world still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

The sudden unexpected rise in monkeypox cases worldwide has become an increasing concern. The zoonotic disease characterized by smallpox-like symptoms has already spread to nearly twenty countries and several continents and is labeled a potential pandemic by experts. monkeypox infections do not have specific treatments. However, since smallpox viruses are similar to monkeypox viruses administering antiviral drugs and vaccines against smallpox could be used to prevent and treat monkeypox. Since the disease is becoming a global concern, it is necessary to analyze its impact and population health. Analyzing key outcomes, such as the number of people infected, deaths, medical visits, hospitalizations, etc., could play a significant role in preventing the spread. In this study, we analyze the spread of the monkeypox virus across different countries using machine learning techniques such as linear regression (LR), decision trees (DT), random forests (RF), elastic net regression (EN), artificial neural networks (ANN), and convolutional neural networks (CNN). Our study shows that CNNs perform the best, and the performance of these models is evaluated using statistical parameters such as mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and R-squared error (R2). The study also presents a time-series-based analysis using autoregressive integrated moving averages (ARIMA) and seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving averages (SARIMA) models for measuring the events over time. Comprehending the spread can lead to understanding the risk, which may be used to prevent further spread and may enable timely and effective treatment. Full article

The monkeypox disease (MPX) outbreak of 2022 has been reported in more than one hundred countries and is becoming a global concern. Unfortunately, only a few treatments, such as tecovirimat (TCV), are available against MPX. Brincidofovir (BCV) is a United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)-approved antiviral against smallpox. This article reviews the potential of BCV for treating MPX and other Orthopoxvirus (OPXVs) diseases. The literature for this review was collected from PubMed, authentic websites (USFDA, Chimerix), and freely available patent databases (USPTO, Espacenet, and Patentscope). BCV (a lipophilic derivative of cidofovir) has been discovered and developed by Chimerix Incorporation, USA. Besides smallpox, BCV has also been tested clinically for various viral infections (adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, ebola virus, herpes simplex virus, and double-stranded DNA virus). Many health agencies and reports have recommended using BCV for MPX. However, no health agency has yet approved BCV for MPX. Accordingly, the off-label use of BCV is anticipated for MPX and various viral diseases. The patent literature revealed some important antiviral compositions of BCV. The authors believe there is a huge opportunity to create novel, inventive, and patentable BCV-based antiviral therapies (new combinations with existing antivirals) for OPXVs illnesses (MPX, smallpox, cowpox, camelpox, and vaccinia). It is also advised to conduct drug interaction (food, drug, and disease interaction) and drug resistance investigations on BCV while developing its combinations with other medications. The BCV-based drug repurposing options are also open for further exploration. BCV offers a promising opportunity for biosecurity against OPXV-based bioterrorism attacks and to control the MPX outbreak of 2022. Full article

In the wake of the emergence and worldwide respread of a viral infection called Monkeypox (Mpox), there is a serious threat to the health and safety of the global population. This viral infection was endemic to the western and central parts of Africa, but has recently spread out of this endemic area to various countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), Portugal, Spain, the United States of America (USA), Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Israel, and Mexico. This is a timely review focusing on recent findings and developments in the epidemiology, clinical features, therapeutic targets, diagnosis, prevention mechanisms, research challenges and possible treatment for Mpox. To date (29 November 2022), there have been around 81,225 reported cases of Mpox. In most cases, this illness is mild; however, there is a fatality rate ranging from 1 to 10%, which might be increased due to associated complications and/or secondary infections. There is a real challenge in the diagnosis of Mpox, since its symptoms are very similar to those of other infections, including smallpox and chickenpox. Generally, to prevent/limit the risk and transmission of Mpox, the detection and isolation of infected individuals, as well as hand hygiene and cleanliness, are essential and effective approaches to control/combat this viral infection. Nevertheless, updated information about Mpox from different angles is lacking. Thus, this review provides updated and comprehensive information about the Mpox illness, which should highlight the global burden, pathogenicity, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention measures and possible treatment of this emerging disease. Full article