Monkeypox Virus as a Source of Whitepox Viruses

Abstract

Monkeypox virus cloning and isolation of the so-called ‘white’ clones from white pocks which this virus forms on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) were carried out. The isolated clones were stable and differed considerably from the parental strain. By their properties, they were identical to whitepox viruses formerly isolated from wildlife monkeys and rodents in Equatorial Africa. Besides stable ‘white’ clones, a number of virus cultures in the process of cloning were obtained which differed in quantitative content of virions, forming on CAM white pocks and pocks with hemorrhages. It appeared that the properties of the viral population as a whole (reaction type on rabbit skin, hemagglutination activity, etc.) depended on the rate of virions produced with different characteristics.

Interaction of orthopoxviruses with the cellular ubiquitin-ligase system

“…For example, CPXV has a very wide range of sensitive hosts [39], and VACV also can reproduce in various animal species, although in a local manner at the infection site. On the contrary, VARV and ECTV have a very narrow hr: VARV under natural conditions infects only humans and ECTV only some mouse strains [40].…”

Organization and expression of the poxvirus genome

“…Since these 6 isolates produce typically variolalike, white pocks on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, they have collectively been called 'whitepox' viruses. A possible explanation for the origin of 'whitepox' viruses has been presented in 2 reports (Marennikova and Shelukhina, 1978;Marennikova et al, 1979). Either by inoculating hamsters with monkeypox virus or by cloning monkeypox virus on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, white-pock variants were isolated which had all ascertainable properties of 'whitepox' viruses.…”

The gene of the complement-binding protein, an important anti-inflammatory factor of orthopoxviruses, is deleted from the genome of Western African strains of monkeypox virus

“…The first monkeypox case was diagnosed in humans in 1970 in Congo [3] (today, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)). Before 2003, this infectious disease was encountered only in rainforests of Central and West Africa [4][5][6].…”

“…However, among the 418 monkeypox cases that were described in humans for the period of 1970-1995, 388 cases (92.8%) were diagnosed in DRC. Note that lethal cases were reported only in this Central African country [3,9]. In 1996-2002, numerous monkeypox cases with lethality varying from 4% [3] to 16% [4] were diagnosed only in DRC.…”

“…Note that lethal cases were reported only in this Central African country [3,9]. In 1996-2002, numerous monkeypox cases with lethality varying from 4% [3] to 16% [4] were diagnosed only in DRC.…”