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Poxvirus tropism

Grant McFadden1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, and Robarts Research Institute, Siebens-Drake Building, Room 133, 1400 Western Road, London, Ontario N6G 2V4, Canada. mcfadden@robarts.ca

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|March 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Despite smallpox eradication, concerns about variola virus and monkeypox re-emergence persist. Understanding poxvirus species specificity and zoonotic potential is crucial for public health and developing novel therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The World Health Organization's smallpox eradication program was successful, but concerns remain about potential re-emergence of variola virus and other pathogenic poxviruses like monkeypox.
  • Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the strict species specificity of poxvirus infections in vertebrate hosts and the mechanisms underlying zoonotic transmission events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of poxvirus tropism and host range.
  • To discuss the potential of utilizing host-restricted poxvirus vectors for therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing research on poxvirus tropism, focusing on cellular-level interactions.
  • It examines the factors influencing species specificity and zoonotic potential of poxviruses.

Main Results:

  • Poxvirus tropism appears to be primarily regulated by intracellular events post-entry, rather than specific host receptors.
  • The review highlights the limited understanding of the molecular basis for poxvirus host specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Further research into poxvirus tropism and host range is essential for predicting and preventing future outbreaks.
  • Host-restricted poxviruses offer promising avenues for developing targeted vaccines, gene therapy vectors, and oncolytic viral therapies for cancer treatment.

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