Smallpox News and Research

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Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the Orthopox virus family. It is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity, with a mortality rate as high as 30%. In 1967, the World Health Organization embarked upon an intensified vaccination campaign to eliminate smallpox, which culminated in the successful eradication of the disease globally by 1980.

By the mid-1980s, there were only two known repositories of variola virus: the Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and the US CDC. The events in the US in September and October 2001 highlighted the risk that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. Governments around the world are taking precautionary measures to be ready to deal with a potential smallpox outbreak.

Single-dose smallpox vaccine could be effective against mpox

Researchers estimated the efficacy of a single-dose Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavaria Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine against mpox (MPX) in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).

19 Dec 2022

Study examines Mpox prevention with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)

A new Eurosurveillance study investigated the efficacy of the MVA-BN vaccine, which was administered to individuals after exposure to the virus.

18 Dec 2022

mRNA vaccine methodologies: Production, value and spectrometer use

To be decided by the editor

From Thermo Fisher Scientific – Materials & Structural Analysis 16 Dec 2022

Knowledge and attitudes to mpox among GBMSM in Australia

Researchers presented the results of a cross-sectional survey done in Australia between August and September 2022.

12 Dec 2022

Enveloped viruses show greater cross-species transmission, according to new research

New research found that enveloped viruses harbor greater cross-species transmissibility and are more likely to cause zoonotic infections than nonenveloped viruses.

9 Dec 2022

Exploring immunogenicity, boosting efficacy and safety of modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic vaccine

Researchers evaluated the immunogenicity, boosting efficacy, and safety of single-dose and two-dose MVA-BN (modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic) vaccinations in comparison to replicating smallpox vaccines.

7 Dec 2022

Vaccine MVA-BN shows consistent, robust immunogenicity and safety results

A phase III clinical trial showed consistent immunogenicity for a freeze-dried formulation of Bavarian Nordic's Modified Vaccinia Ankara.

5 Dec 2022

Mpox virus from Clade 2b is the least virulent strain according to new study

Researchers used the CAST/EiJ mouse model to test whether genetic differences between clades 1, 2a, and 2b of the monkeypox virus contribute to changes in transmission and virulence of the disease.

5 Dec 2022

New evidence of mpox virus transmission before onset of symptoms

Researchers extensively followed-up high-risk contacts of clade IIb mpox (MPX) virus (MPXV)-infected patients to evaluate the risk of MPX after MPXV exposure and to characterize early MPXV infections.

30 Nov 2022

Monkeypox renamed "mpox" in an effort to combat stigma

WHO announces that the monkeypox virus will now be referred to as “mpox” in an effort to reduce the stigmatization of this condition.

29 Nov 2022

Small UK study investigates the effectiveness of a single MVA-BN dose against mpox disease

Researchers estimated the single-dose MVA-BN vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic mpox among high-risk gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in England.

29 Nov 2022

Modeling study offers a road map for public health to maximize the impact of monkeypox vaccines

A modeling study to explore optimal allocation of vaccines against monkeypox virus (MPXV) provides a road map for public health to maximize the impact of a limited supply of vaccines.

28 Nov 2022

Novel mRNA vaccines encoding Monkeypox virus proteins show promise in preclinical studies

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers in China demonstrated the efficacy of three messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology-based Monkeypox virus (MPXV) vaccines in combating a lethal Vaccinia virus (VACV) challenge in mice models.

22 Nov 2022

Study concludes monkeypox virus is readily detected by qPCR using three clinically validated assays

Researchers validated monkeypox virus (MPXV) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays.

17 Nov 2022

Black, Hispanic MSM disproportionately affected by monkeypox

A recent study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report described the epidemiologic characteristics of the monkeypox (MPX) outbreak in the United States (US).

15 Nov 2022

Can monkeypox infection lead to myocarditis?

A recent study presents the first known case of myocarditis as a complication of monkeypox virus infection.

13 Nov 2022

Immunological responses against monkeypox virus concerning the 2022 outbreak

A new study aimed to analyze the kinetics of the pox-specific T-cell induction, the inflammatory profile, and the inflammatory profile in human cases of the current monkeypox outbreak.

9 Nov 2022

What are the eye complications associated with monkeypox infection?

A new study describes the association between monkeypox infection and eye complications in humans.

9 Nov 2022

Phylodynamic analysis of the monkeypox virus genome suggests low genetic variation and evolutionary rates

Researchers explored the genetic variability among the monkeypox virus genomes of Clade IIb lineage B.1 using a phylodynamic and genetic survey to confirm the epidemic cluster in the clade and understand the evolution of the virus.

7 Nov 2022

Specific mutations in the monkeypox virus contribute to its continued infectiousness

Monkeypox has infected more than 77,000 people in more than 100 countries worldwide, and -; similar to COVID-19 -; mutations have enabled the virus to grow stronger and smarter, evading antiviral drugs and vaccines in its mission to infect more people.

4 Nov 2022