Monkeypox virus makes billions of copies of itself and only the fittest will survive, as the mutations help them adapt and continue to spread.
Monkeypox Virus Mutations
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri, led by professor Kamlendra Singh, identified the specific mutations in the monkeypox virus that contribute to its continued infectiousness.
Monkeypox - Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Monkeypox infection is a zoonotic viral infection that usually lasts for 3 weeks. It is caused by the monkeypox virus and is characterized by rash or pox-like symptoms.
Monkeypox infection is a zoonotic viral infection that usually lasts for 3 weeks. It is caused by the monkeypox virus and is characterized by rash or pox-like symptoms.
‘The monkeypox virus has infected more than 77,000 people in more than 100 countries, and in recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 36 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).’
"By doing a temporal analysis, we were able to see how the virus has evolved over time. A key finding was that the virus is now accumulating mutations specifically where drugs and antibodies from vaccines are supposed to bind," researcher Shrikesh Sachdev said. "So, the virus is getting smarter, it is able to avoid being targeted by drugs or antibodies from our body’s immune response and continue to spread to more people," he added.
Kamlendra Singh, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and Christopher S Bond Life Sciences Center principal investigator, collaborated with Shrikesh Sachdev, Athreya Reddy, Shree Lekha Kandasamy, Siddappa Byrareddy and Saathvik Kannan for the research.
Test Your Knowledge on Monkeypox
Introduction:
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of smallpox. It typically occurs in central and western Africa. Sometimes, small clusters or isolated infections are diagnosed in other countries.
![Important Facts on Monkeypox]( "Important Facts on Monkeypox")
Monkeypox does not spread because of monkeys. The name originates from the initial discovery of the virus in monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958. There are two forms of monkeypox, a milder west African strain and a more severe central African, or Congo strain. The current outbreak involves the west African strain, although not all countries have looked into this.
Anyone can spread monkeypox through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person infected with monkeypox.
Introduction:
Monkeypox is a rare viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of smallpox. It typically occurs in central and western Africa. Sometimes, small clusters or isolated infections are diagnosed in other countries.
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Important Facts on Monkeypox
With the rapid increase in the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox cases, the following facts may help ease the alarming rates of misconceptions and concerns that have coursed among public.
With the rapid increase in the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox cases, the following facts may help ease the alarming rates of misconceptions and concerns that have coursed among public.
Anyone can spread monkeypox through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person infected with monkeypox.
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Treatment of Monkeypox With US FDA Approved Tecovirimat
Whether monkeypox patients receiving tecovirimat heal more quickly than those receiving a placebo is being studied by researchers.
Whether monkeypox patients receiving tecovirimat heal more quickly than those receiving a placebo is being studied by researchers.
He explained that the DNA genome for monkeypox is converted into nearly 200 proteins, so it comes with all the ’armor’ it needs to replicate, divide and continue to infect others.
Kannan and Kandasamy examined five specific proteins while analyzing the monkeypox virus strains -- DNA polymerase, DNA helicase, bridging protein A22R, DNA glycosylase and G9R.
Researchers continue to question how the monkeypox virus has evolved over time.
The efficacy of current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved drugs to treat monkeypox have been suboptimal, likely because they were originally developed to treat HIV and herpes but have since received emergency use authorization in an attempt to control the recent monkeypox outbreak.
Source-IANS
