Monkey pox is a rare but serious disease caused by the monkey pox virus (MPXV) that infects both humans and animals.

Monkey pox vaccine predictions

Monkey pox is a rare but serious disease caused by the monkey pox virus (MPXV) that infects both humans and animals. There are currently no known treatments for monkey pox infection; however, there have been some promising developments towards developing a safe and effective vaccine.

Monkey pox vaccine research

The first step towards identifying a potential vaccine candidate is to develop a reliable test to determine if MPXV causes the disease. Currently, there are two methods being used to evaluate vaccines in monkey models; immune histochemistry and viral isolation. Immune histochemistry detects antibodies against the virus which indicates exposure to the virus whereas viral isolation detects the presence of the virus. Both tests are laborious and require extensive laboratory testing. Alternative techniques are therefore necessary to identify a possible vaccine candidate.

Monkey pox vaccine trials

A monkey model of MPXV infection was developed in the 1960’s at UAB. Monkeys infected with MPXV were given injections of different vaccine candidates. Vaccine candidates included live-attenuated viruses, killed viruses, and recombinant DNA products. These experiments showed that the monkey pox strains were attenuated compared to their wild type counterparts and could protect monkeys from subsequent challenge with wild-type MPXV.

Developing a human vaccine

Although it is not yet clear what kind of vaccine would provide protection to humans, efforts are underway to develop a human vaccine. In 2015, scientists at Oxford University sequenced the MPXV genome. Using bioinformatics software, they identified several genes involved in replication and virulence. A phase I clinical trial using recombinant vaccinia virus expressing these genes is planned to begin shortly.

Monkey pox outbreak predictions

Outbreaks of MPXV occur sporadically throughout Africa and have recently spread outside of Africa. However, due to its rarity, there is little information about who gets sick and how many people get sick per year. As scientists continue to investigate the pathogenesis of MPXV and develop novel diagnostic tools, we may learn more about the epidemiology of this virus and predict future outbreaks.

 

Monkey pox virus (MPXV) was first discovered in 1958 in rhesus monkeys in Germany. In humans the disease causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially among children under the age of 5 years old. The majority of cases have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria, where 1 million people were affected in 2003. Monkey pox virus primarily infects wild monkeys; however, human infection is rare due to lack of exposure.

The natural reservoir of MPXV remains unknown. Transmission between animals occurs through direct contact with infectious material, inhalation of aerosols, and bites from infected arthropods. Humans become infected through close contact with infected animals or their excretions. Human-to-human transmission is possible via respiratory droplets, and the airborne route may play a role in epidemics when infection levels exceed the capacity of the environment to dilute infectious materials. Other routes of infection include contact with contaminated blood or bodily fluids, consumption of food prepared using raw meat or milk products from infected animals, or use of unsterile needles and syringes.

Infectious virus particles spread through the air in a cloud-like fashion. The virus targets epithelial cells in skin and mucous membranes, causing vesicles containing fluid to appear at the site of inoculation. These lesions often heal without treatment in 10 to 14 days. Infected rodents develop generalized lymphadenopathy, and infected cats may develop fever, lethargy, depression, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

MPXV is listed as a Category A Priority Pathogen by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At present, no approved treatments exist for monkey pox, although several drugs have been tested in laboratory settings. One drug, cidofovir, showed some promise in treating monkey pox patients in Senegal; although further studies are necessary before its use in humans is considered safe and effective. In addition, vaccines have shown efficacy in protecting nonhuman primates against MPXV infection, including a recombinant vaccine virus expressing the MPXV glycoprotein C (rMVA-GP~C~). However, protection provided by these vaccines is not yet known in humans.