AI Summary
In early 2022, cases of monkeypox virus infection were found in the UK without travel history to affected regions. The infection primarily impacted gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. A Smallpox vaccination was offered to high-risk individuals to limit the spread of the virus. Research has shown that the vaccination induces a low number of antibodies to a limited number of monkeypox virus antigens, with increasing doses leading to more antibodies. Monkeypox virus infection and Smallpox vaccination produce similar antibody responses. Specific markers for identifying the infection and the vaccination have been identified. This research has implications for future vaccine and therapeutic design.
In early 2022, a cluster of monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection (mpox) cases were identified within the UK with no prior travel history to MPXV-endemic regions. Subsequently, case numbers exceeding 80,000 were reported worldwide, primarily affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Public health agencies worldwide have offered the IMVANEX Smallpox vaccination to these individuals at high-risk to provide protection and limit the spread of MPXV. We have developed a comprehensive array of ELISAs to study poxvirus-induced antibodies, utilising 24 MPXV and 3 Vaccinia virus (VACV) recombinant antigens. Panels of serum samples from individuals with differing Smallpox-vaccine doses and those with prior MPXV infection were tested on these assays, where we observed that one dose of Smallpox vaccination induces a low number of antibodies to a limited number of MPXV antigens but increasing with further vaccination doses. MPXV infection induced similar antibody responses to diverse poxvirus antigens observed in Smallpox-vaccinated individuals. We identify MPXV A27 as a serological marker of MPXV-infection, whilst MPXV M1 (VACV L1) is likely IMVANEX-specific. Here, we demonstrate analogous humoral antigen recognition between both MPXV-infected or Smallpox-vaccinated individuals, with binding to diverse yet core set of poxvirus antigens, providing opportunities for future vaccine (e.g., mRNA) and therapeutic (e.g., mAbs) design.
Monkeypox virus (MPXV), is a member of the Orthopoxviruses, a group of