A breakthrough in identifying the mechanisms that control mousepox could pave the way to better protection against the use of
smallpox by terrorists.
Researchers at the ANU John Curtin School of Medical Research have identified proteins that determine which mice succumb to mousepox and which do not. The new insights into the immune response of mice to the mousepox virus could enable scientists to improve treatment for poxvirus infections, including smallpox.
The research team, led by Dr Gunasegaran Karupiah, are the first in the world to identify the regulatory proteins, known as cytokines, which occur only in resistant individuals.
This finding raises the possibility of identifying those humans who would be at risk if exposed to smallpox, enabling extremely effective targeting for vaccination programs to prevent or treat the disease.
A coordinated vaccination campaign would significantly increase the number of people who could be protected, with a particular focus on health workers who would inevitably be involved in treating victims of a bioterrorism attack.
“This is an important step towards better protection from the threat of smallpox for health workers and the general community,” Dr Karupiah said.
Scientists know relatively little about the immune response to smallpox, primarily because the virus has been all but eradicated for years.