Phylogenomic characterization and signs of microevolution in the 2022 multi-country outbreak of monkeypox virus

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Isidro, J (Author) Other; Borges, V (Author) Other; Pinto, M (Author) Other; Sobral, D (Author) Other; Santos, JD (Author) Other; Nunes, A (Author) Other; Mixao, V (Author) Other; Ferreira, R (Author) Other; Santos, D (Author) Other; Duarte, S (Author) Other; Vieira, L (Author) Other; Borrego, MJ (Author) Other; Nuncio, S (Author) Other; de Carvalho, IL (Author) Other; Pelerito, A (Author) Other; Cordeiro, R (Author) Other; Gomes, JP (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Nature Medicine

Vol. 28

Pages: 2220-2221

ISSN: 1078-8956

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 481 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-ZDV

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01907-y

Abstract (EN): The largest monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak described so far in non-endemic countries was identified in May 2022 (refs. (1-6)). In this study, shotgun metagenomics allowed the rapid reconstruction and phylogenomic characterization of the first MPXV outbreak genome sequences, showing that this MPXV belongs to clade 3 and that the outbreak most likely has a single origin. Although 2022 MPXV (lineage B.1) clustered with 2018-2019 cases linked to an endemic country, it segregates in a divergent phylogenetic branch, likely reflecting continuous accelerated evolution. An in-depth mutational analysis suggests the action of host APOBEC3 in viral evolution as well as signs of potential MPXV human adaptation in ongoing microevolution. Our findings also indicate that genome sequencing may provide resolution to track the spread and transmission of this presumably slow-evolving double-stranded DNA virus.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8