Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 2, 2026

Vaccinia Reporter Viruses for Quantifying Viral Function at All Stages of Gene Expression
Published on: May 15, 2014
Insights into the Life Cycle and Therapeutic Agents for Monkeypox Virus Infection
Qiuyu Zhong1,2, Shulei Hu1,2, Xiong Xie2,3
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.
Abstract:
Since the first confirmed case in 1970, the monkeypox virus (MPXV) has emerged as a significant threat to global public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on two occasions. Despite decades of research, only tecovirimat has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of MPXV infection. The genome and structure are similar between MPXV and other orthopoxviruses (OPXVs), suggesting that the strategies used for other OPXVs may be applicable to MPXV. This review systematically summarizes the genome, structure, and critical stages in the life cycle of OPXVs, especially MPXV. A variety of antiviral agents against MPXV and other OPXVs are discussed according to their distinct mechanisms of action: 1) blocking viral entry and fusion, 2) inhibiting DNA replication and processing, 3) disrupting transcription and mRNA processing, 4) preventing virion assembly, maturation and release, 5) modulating immune responses, and 6) mechanism unknown. Overall, this article provides a systematic review of current research progress on potential therapeutic targets and agent for MPXV, aiming to offer innovative insights and strategies for the development of effective therapeutic agents against mpox.
Related Concept Videos
Smallpox
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Subviral Agents
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Chickenpox

