Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
12:00
Vaccinia Virus Infection & Temporal Analysis of Virus Gene Expression: Part 1
Published on: April 8, 2009
10.7K
Evolutionary and Modification Features of Two Monkeypox Virus Strains: Insights from Integrated Genomic and
Zhongru Zhao1,2,3, Bohan Zhang3, Jingwan Han3
1Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Viruses
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Global monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreaks highlight the need for research beyond genomics. This study reveals epigenetic modifications like 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and N6-methyladenine (6mA) in MPXV, offering new insights into viral evolution and transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Global monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreaks designated as public health emergencies necessitate understanding viral evolution.
- Current research on MPXV largely focuses on genomic variation, overlooking epigenetic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate evolutionary genomic analysis with whole-genome DNA methylation profiling for MPXV.
- To characterize epigenetic modifications in clinically derived MPXV isolates.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput evolutionary genomic analysis.
- Whole-genome DNA methylation profiling using Illumina and Nanopore sequencing.
- Characterization of two clinically derived MPXV isolates.
Main Results:
- Both MPXV isolates belonged to the C.1.1 ancestral lineage, diverging into distinct clades (E.3 and E.4).
- APOBEC3-associated substitutions were the predominant mutations observed.
- 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and N6-methyladenine (6mA) modifications were enriched in MPXV's inverted terminal repeat (ITR) regions.
- The E.4 lineage exhibited a more complex epigenetic modification landscape, indicating heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a multi-omics framework for understanding MPXV evolution and diversification.
- Epigenetic modifications play a significant role in MPXV adaptation and diversification.
- Findings enhance understanding of viral evolution mechanisms beyond genomic variation.
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