Recently, a study revealed a novel adaptation mechanism of the Mpox virus enhancing its ability to infect humans amidst recent outbreaks.The name was changed from “monkeypox” to “mpox” to avoid stigma towards monkeys and reflect the virus’s direct human infectivity. Genomic accordion refers to the rhythmic expansions and contractions in the size of a virus’s genome, specifically observed in poxviruses like mpox.This phenomenon is driven by the duplication or deletion of genes within the virus’s genome, leading to changes in its size and content.
Mpox
- Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a DNA virus. It belongs to the family Poxviridae, which consists of large, double-stranded DNA viruses.
- The virus was first identified in monkeys in 1958 but has since been found to infect humans as well.
- Transmission: Mpox is primarily transmitted to humans from animals, particularly rodents and primates, through direct contact or through contaminated objects.
- Symptoms: Mpox infection in humans typically presents with fever, headache, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash that progresses from macules to papules to vesicles and pustules.
- Vaccination: While a vaccine for mpox exists, its availability and effectiveness are limited, highlighting the need for improved prevention and control measures.
- Global Outbreaks: Mpox gained global attention during a widespread outbreak that affected over 100,000 people in more than 118 countries in 2022-2023.
- The outbreak was characterised by high human-to-human transmission, particularly through close contact and the sexual route.
- WHO Declaration: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, leading to coordinated efforts to control its spread.
Genomic Features
- Clades and Lineages: Mpox genomes are divided into clades I and II, with evidence suggesting clade I has higher mortality.
- The 2022 outbreak involved a new lineage, clade IIb, better adapted for human-to-human transmission.
- Genomic Analysis: Researchers found evidence of a distinct lineage of clade I associated with human-to-human transmission, suggesting a recent zoonotic spillover event.
- Evolutionary Adaptations: Mpox viruses can undergo genomic accordion through gene duplication or deletion to adapt to different hosts and environments.
- A study published in Nature Communications sequenced the genome of the mpox virus from the 2022 outbreak, revealing that certain sections strongly influence human-to-human transmission and are the virus’s genomic accordions.
Difference Between Small Pox, Chicken Pox, Mpox
| Feature | Smallpox | Monkeypox | Chickenpox |
| Virus | Variola virus | Monkeypox virus | Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) |
| Severity | Highly severe, often fatal | Milder than smallpox, rarely fatal | Mild |
| Status | Eradicated in 1980 | Endemic in Central and West Africa, cases emerging elsewhere | Common childhood illness, less common due to vaccination |
| Transmission | Highly contagious through respiratory droplets and contact with infected lesions | Spread through contact with infected animals, lesions, or bodily fluids | Highly contagious through respiratory droplets and contact with lesions |
| Symptoms | Fever, headache, severe fatigue, vomiting, followed by a deep-seated, pus-filled rash | Fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash that progresses through stages | Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, followed by an itchy, fluid-filled rash |
| Vaccination | No longer needed | Not routinely recommended, may be given to high-risk individuals | Routine vaccination for children and adults who haven’t had chickenpox |