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Design and Optimization of a Monkeypox virus Specific Serological Assay
Taha Y Taha1, Michael B Townsend2, Jan Pohl3
1Reagent and Diagnostic Services Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 29, 2023
Summary
A new peptide-based assay can accurately detect Monkeypox virus (MPXV) exposure, distinguishing it from other orthopoxviruses. This development is crucial for epidemiological surveillance of MPXV and future disease outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Monkeypox virus (MPXV), an orthopoxvirus (OPXV), is a zoonotic pathogen endemic to Africa, causing severe illness and significant mortality.
- MPXV infections have increased substantially since the cessation of smallpox vaccination, highlighting the need for robust surveillance.
- Distinguishing MPXV infection from other OPXV exposures via serology is challenging due to conserved viral proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a specific peptide-based serological assay for detecting Monkeypox virus (MPXV) exposure.
- To differentiate MPXV infection from other orthopoxvirus (OPXV) infections and past smallpox vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Comparative immunogenic protein analysis across human OPXVs to identify MPXV-specific targets.
- Selection of peptides based on MPXV sequence specificity and predicted immunogenicity.
- ELISA screening of individual and combined peptides against serum samples from Mpox outbreaks, vaccinees, and pre-eradication smallpox patients.
Main Results:
- A peptide combination demonstrated high performance, achieving approximately 86% sensitivity and 90% specificity in detecting MPXV exposure.
- The assay's effectiveness was validated in a serosurvey using serum specimens linked to a past MPXV outbreak.
Conclusions:
- The developed peptide-based serological assay offers a specific and sensitive tool for detecting Monkeypox virus (MPXV) exposure.
- This assay is valuable for epidemiological surveillance, particularly in distinguishing MPXV from other orthopoxviruses (OPXVs) and assessing past infections.
