Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Monkeypox disease (MPX) was first identified in monkeys in 1958. The first case of MPX in a human was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1971. Early outbreaks of MPX occurred in specific regions (Africa, United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, etc.); however, the MPX outbreak of 2022 is of global concern because it has spread to more than 105 countries. Unfortunately, MPX treatments (tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir) and prophylactics (JYNNEOS vaccine) are limited. Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an orthopoxvirus (OPXV). Various OPXVs (cowpox, vaccinia, smallpox, etc.) share similar genetic makeup. Accordingly, the drugs that are used to treat an OPXV disease may be useful in treating MPX. This Special Issue relates to the discovery and development of the treatment of OPXV-based diseases with a special emphasis on MPX. Submissions consisting of reviews, original articles, and communications based on the title theme are invited from experts around the globe. The scope of this Special Issue includes all aspects related to the drug discovery of treatments for OPXV-based diseases, including new targets, molecules, combinations, formulations, biopharmaceutical studies, natural products, biomedicines, vaccines, drug repurposing, pharmacovigilance, clinical reports, and patents. The content of this Special Issue will be of great value to the scientific community involved in the development of treatments for OPXV-based diseases.

Dr. Mohd Imran
Dr. Ali A. Rabaan
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biomedicines biomedicines	3.9	5.2	2013	14.6 Days	CHF 2600
Journal of Clinical Medicine jcm	3.0	5.7	2012	16 Days	CHF 2600
Pathogens pathogens	3.3	6.4	2012	15.3 Days	CHF 2200
Vaccines vaccines	5.2	8.9	2013	18.6 Days	CHF 2700
Viruses viruses	3.8	7.3	2009	17.1 Days	CHF 2600

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Biomedicines JCM Pathogens Vaccines Viruses

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13 pages, 1780 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Subunit Vaccine Candidate Composed of Mpox Virus A29L, M1R, A35R, and B6R Elicits Robust Immune Response in Mice

by Xuetao Yang, Xidan Yang, Shouwen Du, Congxia Hu, Xiu Yang, Xingyun Wang, Xing Hu, Nino Rcheulishvili, Peng George Wang and Jihui Lin

Vaccines 2023, 11(9), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11091420 - 25 Aug 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3261

Abstract

With no specific antiviral drugs and preventive vaccines against Mpox virus (MPXV), the epidemic has led to the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As a developmental direction for new vaccines, studies of subunit vaccines based upon MPXV antigen proteins [...] Read more.

With no specific antiviral drugs and preventive vaccines against Mpox virus (MPXV), the epidemic has led to the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As a developmental direction for new vaccines, studies of subunit vaccines based upon MPXV antigen proteins are lacking. In this study, A29L, M1R, A35R, and B6R of MPXV were expressed and purified from a prokaryotic system. The four MPXV antigen proteins in combination were mixed with aluminum hydroxide or CpG7909 as adjuvant, and subsequently used to inoculate mice. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry analyses, and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays indicated that A29L, M1R, A35R, and B6R elicited high-level antigen-specific antibodies and CD4⁺ T cells-based cellular immune response in mice. Moreover, the results of virus neutralization assays suggested that sera from the mice immunized with four proteins elicited high neutralizing activities against the vaccinia virus. Notably, the results of ELISA, ELISPOT, and virus neutralization assays also showed that the CpG7909 adjuvant was more effective in inducing an immune response compared with the aluminum adjuvant. In summary, this study offers valuable insights for further studies of subunit vaccine candidates for the prevention of MPXV and other orthomyxoviruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments)

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25 pages, 9186 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Repurposing Anti-Dengue Compounds against Monkeypox Virus Targeting Core Cysteine Protease

by Mohd Imran, Abida, Nawaf M. Alotaibi, Hamdy Khamees Thabet, Jamal Alhameedi Alruwaili, Lina Eltaib, Ahmed Alshehri, Ahad Amer Alsaiari, Mehnaz Kamal and Abdulmajeed Mohammed Abdullah Alshammari

Biomedicines 2023, 11(7), 2025; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11072025 - 18 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2279

Abstract

The monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Orthopox viruses. In recent years, the virus has spread to countries where it was previously unknown, turning it into a worldwide emergency for public health. This study employs a [...] Read more.

The monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Orthopox viruses. In recent years, the virus has spread to countries where it was previously unknown, turning it into a worldwide emergency for public health. This study employs a structural-based drug design approach to identify potential inhibitors for the core cysteine proteinase of MPXV. During the simulations, the study identified two potential inhibitors, compound CHEMBL32926 and compound CHEMBL4861364, demonstrating strong binding affinities and drug-like properties. Their docking scores with the target protein were −10.7 and −10.9 kcal/mol, respectively. This study used ensemble-based protein–ligand docking to account for the binding site conformation variability. By examining how the identified inhibitors interact with the protein, this research sheds light on the workings of the inhibitors’ mechanisms of action. Molecular dynamic simulations of protein–ligand complexes showed fluctuations from the initial docked pose, but they confirmed their binding throughout the simulation. The MMGBSA binding free energy calculations for CHEMBL32926 showed a binding free energy range of (−9.25 to −9.65) kcal/mol, while CHEMBL4861364 exhibited a range of (−41.66 to −31.47) kcal/mol. Later, analogues were searched for these compounds with 70% similarity criteria, and their IC₅₀ was predicted using pre-trained machine learning models. This resulted in identifying two similar compounds for each hit with comparable binding affinity for cysteine proteinase. This study’s structure-based drug design approach provides a promising strategy for identifying new drugs for treating MPXV infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments)

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15 pages, 2712 KiB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Viral Loads in Skin Samples of Patients with Monkeypox Virus Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Isha Rani, Prakasini Satapathy, Anmol Goyal, Muhammad Aaqib Shamim, Amit Pal, Rosanna Squitti, Kalyan Goswami, Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, Sarvesh Rustagi, Alaa Hamza Hermis, Joshuan J. Barboza, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales, Ranjit Sah and Bijaya K. Padhi

Viruses 2023, 15(6), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15061386 - 17 Jun 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3719

Abstract

Despite monkeypox (mpox) being a public health emergency, there is limited knowledge about the risk of infectivity from skin viral loads during mpox infection. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate cutaneous viral loads among mpox patients globally. Several databases, including [...] Read more.

Despite monkeypox (mpox) being a public health emergency, there is limited knowledge about the risk of infectivity from skin viral loads during mpox infection. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate cutaneous viral loads among mpox patients globally. Several databases, including Cochrane, EBSCOHost, EMBASE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and preprint servers were searched concerning skin mpox viral loads in confirmed mpox subjects. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a total of 331 articles were initially screened after the removal of duplicate entries. A total of nine articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis for the overall estimation of viral loads (Ct) using a random-effect model. The pooled cutaneous mpox viral load (lower Ct) was 21.71 (95% CI: 20.68–22.75) with a majority of positivity rates being 100%, highlighting a higher infectivity risk from skin lesions. The current results strongly support that skin mpox viral loads may be a dominant source of rapid transmission during current multi-national outbreaks. This important finding can help in constructing useful measures in relevant health policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments)

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17 pages, 370 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Monkeypox Virus in Animals: Current Knowledge of Viral Transmission and Pathogenesis in Wild Animal Reservoirs and Captive Animal Models

by Elizabeth A. Falendysz, Juan G. Lopera, Tonie E. Rocke and Jorge E. Osorio

Viruses 2023, 15(4), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15040905 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6601

Abstract

Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is now the most serious orthopoxvirus (OPXV) infection in humans. This zoonotic disease has been gradually re-emerging in humans with an increasing frequency of cases found in endemic areas, as well as an escalating frequency and size of epidemics [...] Read more.

Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is now the most serious orthopoxvirus (OPXV) infection in humans. This zoonotic disease has been gradually re-emerging in humans with an increasing frequency of cases found in endemic areas, as well as an escalating frequency and size of epidemics outside of endemic areas in Africa. Currently, the largest known mpox epidemic is spreading throughout the world, with over 85,650 cases to date, mostly in Europe and North America. These increased endemic cases and epidemics are likely driven primarily by decreasing global immunity to OPXVs, along with other possible causes. The current unprecedented global outbreak of mpox has demonstrated higher numbers of human cases and greater human-to-human transmission than previously documented, necessitating an urgent need to better understand this disease in humans and animals. Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections in animals, both naturally occurring and experimental, have provided critical information about the routes of transmission; the viral pathogenicity factors; the methods of control, such as vaccination and antivirals; the disease ecology in reservoir host species; and the conservation impacts on wildlife species. This review briefly described the epidemiology and transmission of MPXV between animals and humans and summarizes past studies on the ecology of MPXV in wild animals and experimental studies in captive animal models, with a focus on how animal infections have informed knowledge concerning various aspects of this pathogen. Knowledge gaps were highlighted in areas where future research, both in captive and free-ranging animals, could inform efforts to understand and control this disease in both humans and animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments)

12 pages, 399 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Monkeypox Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Willingness to Vaccinate among University Students in Pakistan

by Narendar Kumar, Fatima Ahmed, Muhammad Sauban Raza, Pushp Lata Rajpoot, Wajiha Rehman, Shoaib Alam Khatri, Mustapha Mohammed, Shaib Muhammad and Rabbiya Ahmad

Vaccines 2023, 11(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010097 - 31 Dec 2022

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5124

Abstract

This study aimed to explore knowledge, attitude, perceptions, and willingness regarding vaccination among university students in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was carried out using an open online self-administered survey via Google Forms. The survey data were collected between the 15 to 30 of [...] Read more.

This study aimed to explore knowledge, attitude, perceptions, and willingness regarding vaccination among university students in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was carried out using an open online self-administered survey via Google Forms. The survey data were collected between the 15 to 30 of October 2022. A total of 946 respondents participated in the study, of which the majority were female (514, 54.3%). Most students belonged to a medical background, specifically pharmaceutical sciences. Most of the respondents did not know about monkeypox before 2022 (646, 68.3%). Regarding overall knowledge of monkeypox, most of the respondents had average knowledge (726, 76.7%), with very few having good knowledge (60, 6.3%). Regarding overall attitudes towards monkeypox, most of the respondents had neutral attitudes (648, 68.5%). There was a significant association between knowledge of Monkeypox with the type of academic degree (p < 0.001), type of discipline (p < 0.001), and region of respondents (p < 0.001). The willingness to vaccinate among the population was (67.7%). The current study pointed out that the overall knowledge of monkeypox was average in most respondents, with considerable knowledge gaps in most aspects. The overall attitude towards monkeypox was neutral. Further, the knowledge about monkeypox was strongly associated with academic degree, study discipline, and region of respondents. Our findings emphasize the need to raise public awareness by educating students on the monkeypox virus. This will improve adherence to preventative recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery and Development of Monkeypox Disease Treatments)

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